Kieren Fallon: Six-time champion jockey retires because of depression
The 51-year-old has been crowned champion jockey on six occasions and has ridden 16 British classic winners
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Your support makes all the difference.Kieran Fallon, the six-time British champion jockey, has retired from racing as he begins hospital treatment for depression.
The 51-year-old has been crowned champion jockey on six occasions and has ridden 16 British classic winners but, according to the Irish Turf Club's chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick, he has “lost the motivation” to continue riding.
“Kieren is suffering from severe depression,” Dr McGoldrick said. “He has had quite significant depression 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.
“As soon as I can get a bed organised for him, he’ll be going to hospital 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. He felt 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.”
Fallon has previously spoken about his depression, opening up about the subject eight years ago. “When you’re depressed, you don’t want to get out of bed, you don’t want to face people, you don’t want to do anything,” he said.
“Depression’s a terrible thing, so it is. And the longer you leave it, the worse it gets.”
20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy tweeted: “Best wishes to Kieren Fallon in his retirement, one of the most naturally talented/gifted jockeys I've ever seen.”
The Irishman was once dealt a six-month ban for hauling fellow jockey Stuart Webster off his horse while also being handed an 18-month suspension drugs ban in 2008.
He additionally faced a trial for conspiracy to defraud but the Old Bailey later cleared him and five others of any wrongdoing.
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