KIEREN FALLON HAS announced his retirement from racing.
The 51-year-old only returned to the saddle in Europe this season but suffered a fall on the gallops which, along with suffering from “quite profound depression”, prompted his decision today.
Fallon was champion jockey on no fewer than six occasions and won 16 British Classics including three wins apiece in the Epsom Derby and Oaks.
Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick said that Fallon was suffering from depression and had asked him to make a statement on the jockey’s behalf.
McGoldrick said:
“Kieren is suffering from severe depression. When he came to me before getting his licence to ride this year it was clear he was suffering from depression and I treated him with anti-depressants.
“He told me that he hadn’t intended to make a comeback but decided to do so having been encouraged by Michael (O’Callaghan). But he rang me last week and said his situation had got worse.
I met him and on Sunday he told me he didn’t feel strong enough to speak to anyone in the media about his situation and asked me to speak on his behalf.
“He told me that he has lost the motivation to continue his riding career and wanted people to know about his decision to retire. He said it was time to move on once his depression has been managed.
“In recent years he found himself suffering from profound fatigue but nothing physically wrong was found when doctors examined him.”
If you need to talk, contact:
- Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
- Console 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
- Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
- Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide, self-harm)
- Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
- Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
