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IN A decision that will send ripples of shock and unease through the Irish racing world, Charlie Swan has announced his retirement from training, effective from the end of this month.
The former nine-time Irish champion jump jockey, who had already launched a successful training career before retiring from the saddle in 2003, told his staff of his decision on Wednesday and has informed his owners. He plans to develop his bloodstock trading interests.
Swan said: "I would like to thank all my staff most sincerely for their hard work, dedication and loyalty over the years. I have been very lucky to have trained horses for wonderful owners and would like to take the opportunity to thank them all for their constant support, advice and assistance."
Reflecting on the end of this second chapter of a distinguished career, Swan said: "It was a very hard decision to make in one sense, because of the staff and the owners. However, the reality is the training business is no longer viable for me for two main reasons, the increased cost of labour, feed and all the overheads, and a reduction in numbers in the yard."
Having had upwards of 70 horses in his care before the effects of the recession began to take hold, the stable has been operating with around half that number over the past year or so.
Swan said: "It has become more and more difficult to make the training operation profitable. Also we have been selling some of the more promising youngsters and that has left us without horses to keep the profile of the stable high."
The former nine-time Irish champion jump jockey, who had already launched a successful training career before retiring from the saddle in 2003, told his staff of his decision on Wednesday and has informed his owners. He plans to develop his bloodstock trading interests.
Swan said: "I would like to thank all my staff most sincerely for their hard work, dedication and loyalty over the years. I have been very lucky to have trained horses for wonderful owners and would like to take the opportunity to thank them all for their constant support, advice and assistance."
Reflecting on the end of this second chapter of a distinguished career, Swan said: "It was a very hard decision to make in one sense, because of the staff and the owners. However, the reality is the training business is no longer viable for me for two main reasons, the increased cost of labour, feed and all the overheads, and a reduction in numbers in the yard."
Having had upwards of 70 horses in his care before the effects of the recession began to take hold, the stable has been operating with around half that number over the past year or so.
Swan said: "It has become more and more difficult to make the training operation profitable. Also we have been selling some of the more promising youngsters and that has left us without horses to keep the profile of the stable high."
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Sadly its been on the cards for a long time , at least he has something to turn his hand to , unlike most of his staff , who will have to go harking their wares elsewere ...
Most of them will get fixed up wonks.....even the workriders can go piking shiite for the neighbouring farmer.....
Just shows how hard it is for trainers.
Charlie Swan had some great owners,a stable and gallops that he owns and are debt free.
How do the lads renting stables make it pay.
Charlie Swan had some great owners,a stable and gallops that he owns and are debt free.
How do the lads renting stables make it pay.
Just a theory but lads who have to scrap for it generally have that bit more wit to make a go at the business.
A bit of debt can be good for a business as it encourages discipline.
Swan's prime was before my time but from what I hear he was a bit of a natural talent who maybe didn't have to think too hard about what he is doing.
The era of the airhead trainer went with the boom if that isn't too harsh.
A bit of debt can be good for a business as it encourages discipline.
Swan's prime was before my time but from what I hear he was a bit of a natural talent who maybe didn't have to think too hard about what he is doing.
The era of the airhead trainer went with the boom if that isn't too harsh.
Champion jockeys don't make champion trainers. John Francome, Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery, Peter Scudamore,Tommy Carmody, Frank Berry all tried but didn't make it.
My theory is, they were never around the yard because they were too busy race riding. They probably spent 20 or 30 years arriving at yards and getting a leg up, riding a bit of work and then off to the races. They learned nothing about horse husbandry and never served as an assistant trainer. When they retired they had built up plenty of contacts and there was no shortage of new owners. However, they didn't have an in depth knowledge of how to train or run yard so they were effectively starting from scratch.
My theory is, they were never around the yard because they were too busy race riding. They probably spent 20 or 30 years arriving at yards and getting a leg up, riding a bit of work and then off to the races. They learned nothing about horse husbandry and never served as an assistant trainer. When they retired they had built up plenty of contacts and there was no shortage of new owners. However, they didn't have an in depth knowledge of how to train or run yard so they were effectively starting from scratch.
Agree also with Gotch but in addition ones needs to be an all-rounder able to plan, organise, man-manage, run a business and know how to handle the media and owners and be able to cope with all sorts of disappoinments such as losing runs and loss of horses through injury. It aint for the faint-hearted that is for sure.
Again the Gotchee comes up with the answers , brilliant synopsis ..
yep.the swanee is all washed up,finished!his last roll of the dice was on the a.w,how sad is that?
the gotch is correct.you have got to know what you are at.
the gotch is correct.you have got to know what you are at.
Outside of Willie Mullins, Tony Martin, Gordon Elliott, Henry De Bromhead and Noel Meade, I don't know how anyone is a trainer in Ireland. I know nothing about the art of training or what's involved in it, but sending out 20 winners a season, most of them at an evening meeting in the summer time, doesn't seem much to me.
The sum total of the trainers in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the trainers table last year did not even equate to Willie Mullins winners either who has a complete monopoly with JP, MOL, Ricci and Wylie supporting him.
Swan had a few good horses back a few years ago, One Cool Cookie and Drunken Disorderly. I backed Offshore Account for the Grand National one year and he ran a fine race. There were all decent horses.
The sum total of the trainers in 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the trainers table last year did not even equate to Willie Mullins winners either who has a complete monopoly with JP, MOL, Ricci and Wylie supporting him.
Swan had a few good horses back a few years ago, One Cool Cookie and Drunken Disorderly. I backed Offshore Account for the Grand National one year and he ran a fine race. There were all decent horses.
Charlie is a nice guy , who doesn't have the will to move to another level imo ..Never pushed himself hard ,had it handed to him from his father and never really had to survive the hard times like a lot of them today have to ..Just look at Elliot came from nothing , got his hands dirty and did the work , same applies to Tony Martin ...If you want it its there for you imo ..
I dont know how they make ends meet, hard work or not. w/r ..but im thankful to them as i love jump racing.
Me too Frank , but its the love of the game that keeps them going ,imagine been on the Curragh in that this morning , most of them are waiting for that special horse to make the breakthrough ,I have the greatest respect for them ..These guys are LIVING the dream , even if sometimes it ends up a nightmare...
If he was Wildman it was keeped quite,i dont know how trainers keep there heads above water.we wish them well.
It might be unfair but it seems an extraordinary time to retire,why not wait for the season to end.
Financially he was sound,the land and house long since paid for,the all weather gallop was paid for by a grant Lowry got him.
Financially he was sound,the land and house long since paid for,the all weather gallop was paid for by a grant Lowry got him.
THE opening thread statement says it all from Swans point of view.
Funny you should ask that Wildmanfromborneo , there was some debate at Naas on sat , overheard someone say maybe there was other factors at play...
What a load of bawloxx as usual by the same old suspects....
Was He pushed?....
Overheard someone say maybe there were other factors at play.....
Wilddan even knows hes financially secure....no mortgage....grant from Lowry....
The usual pub talk Shiite from Dan with absolutely no factual basis whatsoever.....sure that never stopped him before I suppose.....and its not unusual Baldrick getting in on the act either with his eavesdropping nonsense.....
Was He pushed?....
Overheard someone say maybe there were other factors at play.....
Wilddan even knows hes financially secure....no mortgage....grant from Lowry....
The usual pub talk Shiite from Dan with absolutely no factual basis whatsoever.....sure that never stopped him before I suppose.....and its not unusual Baldrick getting in on the act either with his eavesdropping nonsense.....
Pikey , they'll be coming to get your pal soon , its on the cards...Shot yourself in the foot again I see over on the main forum . how do you manage it ... I bet every jock is hoping you knock them , turns their season right around wouldn't you say 
Off to the big white house again I hear ,any more of those fits of laughter ,another sign of a breakdown , you take it easy ,don't want you thinking you're Robo again now do we , if you have to go back in , who will the Dodgy one get to do his business for him...Calm down...
It is a fact he is mortgage free.
It is a fact that he got a grant for his new gallop,he got it retrospectively through Lowry.
Other trainers rent their stables,have started from scratch few would have the owners Charlie had.
Why retire immediately,why not see the season out.
It is a fact that he got a grant for his new gallop,he got it retrospectively through Lowry.
Other trainers rent their stables,have started from scratch few would have the owners Charlie had.
Why retire immediately,why not see the season out.
Another thing Pikey ,YOU have some nerve attacking people on here for asking pointed questions , only very recently YOU stated that A LYNCH had intentionally weighted out Knowing he was carrying the wrong weight , that to me is a clear case for him to sue you , for such a statement which has since been proved wrong , so get down off your high horse you gobshyte...
Is there ANY thread you don't stick your beak in, ya gruesome little ferret!
Off with ya Boychild , you cretin , shouldn't you be off somewhere stalking ...
Wonky.....your pal wilddan is below holding his head in his hands saying....what a tool....even by your own lowly standards you are excelling yourself with the Shiite you are talking....you have really cemented your position as the forum idiot....and with catchmeifyoucan around the place ....that takes some doing....
joanna morgan gone also...will it start a trend i wonder..
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