Depression leads to Kieren Fallon calling time on glittering career

The Irish Turf Club’s chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick, speaking on the 51-year-old’s behalf, said the illness had gone unnoticed when he was riding in England and America.

County Clare-born Fallon has returned to his homeland this season, and has now sought medical advice to help combat “quite profound depression”.

“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.

“We know that a lot of elite athletes have depression. I commissioned a survey in racing last year and 49 per cent of jockeys in Ireland actually had symptoms of depression.”

Fallon, who won three Epsom Derbies, 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.

One of the greatest big race jockeys of all time, Fallon began his roller-coaster career with the late Jimmy Fitzgerald in Malton before teaming up with the legendary Sir Henry Cecil in 1997.

Fallon was widely regarded as a master of his trade in his pomp and claimed 16 Classic victories in Britain and six in Ireland.

During his halcyon years, he was also attached to powerhouse yards of Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien.

Never far away from controversy, Fallon was cleared of all charges following a two-month corruption trial at the Old Bailey in 2007 which began the day after he won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Europe’s most prestigious race, on Dylan Thomas.

Former top rider Johnny Murtagh said Fallon was a “brilliant, brilliant” jockey, adding: “I’m just thinking back, one of the best rides I’ve ever seen in the biggest race in the world – the Derby with Kris Kin. The best horse didn’t win the race, the jockey on the day carried him home.”

And Frankie Dettori hailed Fallon as a “ferocious competitor”. He added: “I have ridden alongside Kieren for the past 30 years. He has always been at the top of my list as the most ferocious competitor and we have gained great respect for each other as riders. It’s sad to see Kieren finish his career.”

Six horses that shaped Kieren Fallon’s career.

DYLAN THOMAS (Aidan O’Brien)

Labelled simply the “best I have ever ridden’’ by Fallon after his success in the 2007 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The imposing Aidan O’Brien-trained colt was recording back-to-back wins in the Group One contest, both coming under Fallon, who also guided him to glory in the Irish Derby. His assertion would hardly have changed in the wake of his dramatic success in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the day before the rider was due to appear at the Old Bailey.

OUIJA BOARD (Ed Dunlop)

Seven-times a Group One winner, the Ed Dunlop-trained mare undoubtedly goes down as one of the most brilliant members of her sex - and she was hugely popular with it. She was most latterly partnered by Frankie Dettori, but Fallon’s influence on her career was immense. The Irishman partnered her to a famous English and Irish Oaks double in 2004, followed by her inaugural victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare at Lone Star Park later that year, a ride he executed to perfection. He also won the Hong Kong Vase on her.

GEORGE WASHINGTON (Aidan O’Brien)

The horse with the big ego met his match in Fallon, who handled him superbly to land five victories, three of them at Group One level. There were plenty of doubters heading into the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but precious few afterwards as ‘Gorgeous George’ swept through to win going away from subsequent Derby hero Sir Percy. The horse was subsequently injured when bidding for a double in the Irish equivalent but bounced back to win the QEII at Ascot under Mick Kinane and was far from disgraced when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on his final start before being retired to stud, only to return after proving far from productive in the breeding sheds. He returned to the track but was to meet a tragic end when fatally injured in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup.

BOSRA SHAM (Sir Henry Cecil)

Not far behind Ouija Board in stature and the apple of Sir Henry Cecil’s eye, the daughter of Hector Protector hit her greatest heights under Pat Eddery in the Fillies’ Mile, 1000 Guineas and Champion Stakes, but Fallon was aboard for wins in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Brigadier Gerard, although he was controversially beaten on her in the 1997 Eclipse.

HURRICANE RUN (Andre Fabre)

No-one will ever forget the ice-cool Fallon conjuring a sensational burst up the far rail on Andre Fabre’s colt in the 2005 Arc. The pair also recorded victories in the Irish Derby, Prix Niel and Tattersalls Gold Cup.

RUSSIAN RHYTHM (Sir Michael Stoute)

Simply magnificent at her best and a multiple Group One winner, four in total - all for Fallon. Her crowning moments came in the 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Nassau Stakes - where she stepped up successfully to 10 furlongs - and the Lockinge Stakes, where she beat the colts.