Kieren Fallon retirement from saddle

Kieren Fallon announces sudden retirement from saddle
By Mark Costello on 04 July 2016

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Battle with depression has hastened the top jockey's decision to call it a day

Kieren Fallon has announced his retirement from race-riding.
The 51-year-old jockey has not ridden in races since taking a fall on the Curragh gallops last Wednesday morning. He also missed some meetings last month due to a chest infection and a back injury.
Turf Club medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick announced the news of Fallon's retirement on Monday morning. He said that the jockey had been suffering from severe depression and did not feel able to speak to the media directly. In recent weeks Fallon's condition had worsened and he had lost his motivation to continue as a jockey.
"I first became aware of it when he came to see me for his licence earlier this year and he was obviously very significantly depressed," said Dr McGoldrick.
"Kieren's had quite significant depression ongoing for the best part of three years which has gone undiagnosed in England and America. It got worse and I met with him on Sunday and have arranged to have it managed. He went to see a specialist in America and nobody picked up on it.
"It's quite profound depression. As soon as I can get a bed organised for him, he'll be going to hospital here in Ireland. Hopefully we can get him managed and get him ready for the next stage of his life.
"He said he won't be returning to race riding afterwards and will move on to another phase of his career, whatever that might be. He felt himself he had no motivation for the last two or three years and that had affected his depression. At this stage of his life he feels he has to move on."
Dr McGoldrick continued: "We know that a lot of elite athletes have depression. I commissioned a survey in racing last year and 49% of jockeys in Ireland actually had symptoms of depression."

JOCKEYS' ASSOCIATION
The Irish Jockeys Association stressed the need for vigilance in helping to combat depression in horseracing following the retirement of Kieren Fallon.
Andrew Coonan, secretary of the IJA, insists there is still more that can be done to help tackle such an emotive subject in racing.
He said: "This is a difficult phase in Kieren's life, but I am really pleased that he's been able to come out and make the first steps in confronting the issue.
"I don't think he will regard this as a sad day. There are obviously the regrets of walking away from an outstanding, glittering career, but he has taken a huge step forward in seeking help and support.
"It also makes us all reflect on the fact the issues of depression and mental health are significantly higher in racing than in the general population.
"That is something which is very much food for thought for all of us in the area of racing administration and welfare.
" It is good to talk, of course, but, more importantly, everyone in racing in Ireland needs to know that help is out there.
"There is no situation that cannot be dealt with, and no situation that cannot be discussed and alleviated.
"But w e can never be complacent. There is no structure in place that can't be improved upon, so we must continue to try to provide support to everyone in racing - riders, former riders, trainers and stable staff - who need it."
Young National Hunt jockey Mark Enright admitted to suffering depression in January 2015 and spent three weeks away from racing to help control the problem.
Enright believes Fallon has taken the first positive steps in his rehabilitation.
He said: "It's a horrible illness to go through but Kieren is in the right hands.
"He has done the right thing by seeing Dr McGoldrick, who is a legend and should be made a saint.
"From my point of view, the depression was all locked up inside and I didn't know what to do about it.
"It was all bottled up and I felt there was no way out, so to talk about it and to speak out was such a huge relief.
"Every situation is different and it's a day-to-day thing. I still have my bad days, but the difference now is that I know how to confront them.
"Hopefully Kieren will start to feel the same and that this first step will feel like a huge weight off his shoulders."

O'CALLAGHAN SUPPORT
Fallon, a six-times champion jockey in Britain, will continue to play a part at the yard of young Curragh trainer Michael O'Callaghan, with whom he has been attached since his return from America in the spring.
O'Callaghan said: "He had a fall on the gallops last week and he just said he's 51 now and doesn't bounce like he used to. Kieren has been a great asset to have around the yard. He rode his first Group winner for a long time for us not too long ago. It's been great to have him here and he is going to remain here as a work rider and advisor, hopefully for a while to come - he's just giving up the race riding.
"He's had an amazing career on the track - he must be one of the best jockeys of all time. He is worth his weight in gold to us here, but the main thing is that we just want what is best for Kieren."

FABRE SHOCKED
Andre Fabre was taken aback by the news and will never forget the day Fallon won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for him on Hurricane Run in 2005, as well as the Irish Derby that year.
"He won for me an Arc that was not impossible to win, but it was thanks to him," said the French training great.
"I liked the way he used the horses and I liked the person as well. He's a character and a nice man. I hope he's going to be OK. Riding has been his life. He was top class."
Derby-winning trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said he could sympathise with Fallon as he has been hit by bouts of depression.
"It came as a bit of suprise. Obviously he was a world-class jockey. He's done everything he can achieve and good luck to him whatever he does," he told At The Races.
"I've read about his depression. I go through all that, so I know what it's like. He deserves a good retirement and I'm sure whatever he does he'll do it well."

WINNERS
Fallon moved back to Ireland this year after a spell in America. Up to last week he had ridden nine winners from 115 mounts. He has also had a handful of winners in the UK.
Originally from Clare, Fallon rode over 2,000 winners in his career. He started as an apprentice on the Curragh with Kevin Prendergast before moving to the north of England in 1982. Based with trainer Jimmy Fitzgerald, he slowly won admirers and came to prominence when landing some gambles for trainer Lynda Ramsden and her husband Jack in the early 1990s.
It was around this time also that Fallon developed a reputation as a fiery character. In 1994 he received a six-month ban for pulling another jockey off a horse.
Fallon's career took a massive upward curve in 1997 when he joined Henry Cecil's powerful Newmarket stable. Spells with Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien followed. Fallon has ridden a total of 16 British classic winners and was champion jockey in Britain six times.
In September 2004 Fallon was charged with conspiring to fix the results of a number of races in Britain. A high-profile court case ensued in London's Old Bailey but the case was eventually thrown out when the prosecution's case collapsed.
The jockey also fought alcohol and drug problems through his career. He twice tested positive for drugs in France, receiving bans of six months and 18 months respectively.
Regarded as an excellent judge of a horse's ability on the gallops and in possession of a thorough knowledge of the programme book, Fallon may find a new role in the sport. His next move will be eagerly awaited by his many supporters.
MORE ON THIS STORY IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND

这位骑师51岁了，也该退役了。