Weaver always made way for The Choirboy

Derby great Swinburn recalled fondly at Epsom – even by the ITV pundit who lived in his shadow

The racecard at Epsom on Saturday contained a tribute to jockey Walter Swinburn, who died in December last year. Known as ‘The Choirboy’ because of his youthful looks, he rode three Derby winners; most famously Shergar, followed by Shahrastani, and finally Lammtarra.

His brother Michael, who runs the family’s Genesis Green Stud near Newmarket, recalled Shergar’s victory in 1981, when he was still in short trousers and Walter was just 19. Michael and his parents, Wally and Doreen, had flown over from Ireland for the day. After the race, they were going back to the car, with Michael carrying Walter’s saddle bag, as pleased as punch to be the Derbywinning jockey’s caddie.

Walter spotted an ice-cream van. “Come on,” he said to his little brother, “let’s get a 99.” So, over they went. “Two 99s please,” said Walter. The man selling the ice creams did not know Swinburn from Adam and, as he looked about 10 years old, asked: “Did you have a nice day, son?”

“Yes, thank you,” was the simple reply from Walter.

That, says Michael, is his best memory of Derby day – getting an ice cream.

Afew of us were reminiscing about The Choirboy on Saturday when Jason Weaver, the former jockey who is now a pundit for ITV, recalled attending his funeral.

When Weaver and wife Fiona arrived at the church, 20 minutes before the service, it was already standing room only. However, as they entered, John Ferguson emerged, phone clutched to his ear on what was clearly an important call. As he passed, he told the Weavers that there were now two spare seats in the front pew.

They duly wandered down the aisle, sat down and all was well until just before the service, with the starter on his rostrum as it were, when Nicky Swinburn, Michael’s wife, appeared and, slightly flustered, was clearly searching for someone she knew. Eventually, she alighted on the Weavers. “Is there any chance,” she begged, “if we could have your seats for two family members who haven’t got one?”

“Of course,” replied Weaver. Afterwards, obviously, his ‘removal’ from the front row was not going to be instantly forgotten by his old weighing-room colleagues, but he took the leg-pulling sarcasm in his stride.

That evening, Michael Swinburn rang to apologise for having to move him, explaining that he was the only person his wife had known well enough to ask. Weaver was extremely touched that he had bothered to call and, naturally, said that he was only too pleased to have been able to help out. “I know he was a great jockey,” said Weaver. “When he was alive, he used to jock me off the whole time. Now he’s gone – and he’s still jocking me off!”

The 2017 Investec Derby was probably subject to more visible security than any of the previous 237 editions. Bearing that in mind, the vast majority of security personnel brought in for the two-day meeting have no idea about racing – you wonder if some of them have much idea about security either – but it made for a couple of amusing incidents.

One was of Frankie Dettori being searched before he was allowed to enter the QEII stand housing the weighing room – below a five-times life-size poster of, er, Frankie Dettori. When asked for his identity, he pointed upwards.

Another that amused me was when, having just been posted to his position by the paddock, one security man, on viewing the black rubber pathway around which the horses parade, was heard to say: “I always thought the Derby track would be a bit bigger.”