WALTER SWINBURN made a triumphant return to race-riding at Windsor yesterday more than six months after suffering life-threatening injuries. The jockey's frustrating spell on the sidelines was all forgotten as he steered Talathath to victory in the Royal Bank of Scotland Handicap.
His successful comeback mirrored that of jump jockey Declan Murphy who also won on his first ride back after serious injuries.
Swinburn, 35, the winner of the Epsom Derby three times, canine back to a tremendous ovation. I just wanted to come back and ride. But to have a winner on top of that is something I really won't believe until I get home tonight," he said.
"I really appreciate all the interest and I think I got a bigger round of applause than the three Derbys put together. I've had so many messages of support but it would be wrong to single out anyone. Each and everyone has meant an awful lot to me."
Swinburn had suffered head, rib and shoulder injuries in a horrific incident at Sha Tin, Hong Kong, in February.
With the Jockey Club finally giving the go-ahead, Swinburn had been keenly anticipating the big day. "I was more excited than nervous but I didn't sleep last night and was up at 5am for a good walk," he said.
Swinburn had been worried about being beaten a short-head but in the end Talathath, the 5 to 1 favourite, emerged a comfortable winner.
Willie Carson joined Swinburn in making Windsor yesterday the place for come-backs. The 53-year-old Scot, who had been out of the saddle for 17 days with a bruised back and arm after a fall at Newmarket, was unsuccessful with his first ride back but registered a winner on the second, Ikdam, in the Copenhagen Conditions Stakes.
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