Jockey finds the going firm as fists land him in court

Jockeys may be pint-sized, but they can still pack a punch, if it's ever called for. Or indeed, even if it isn't.

Yesterday, the triple Derby winner Walter Swinburn was taken to task for an excess of manly aggression, which left an unwitting Italian restaurant owner nursing a bloodied nose.

The 35-year-old racing legend, fined pounds 500 and ordered to pay pounds 600 compensation for assaulting Elio Ripa, was left feeling rather small and shame-faced in front of the nation's press.

Eloquent words failed to roll off the 5ft jockey's tongue and he was only able to muster the most diminutive of apologies. "I am very sorry for what happened. I apologise to everyone," he said outside Newmarket magistrates' court.

His solicitor, Mark Edmondson, was more fulsome. "This is a sad day for Walter Swinburn and probably a sad day for Newmarket and racing generally," he added rather grandly.

Swinburn, who lives in Ousden, Suffolk, admitted getting into a drunken rage after sharing a meal with a friend at Il Piccolo Mondo in Newmarket on 24 January. The wealthy jockey declined to pay the pounds 40 restaurant bill and a fight, in full view of passers-by, ensued between customer and restaurateur in the street. The jockey eventually threw pounds 100 on the ground, but soured this gesture by punching Mr Ripa as he stooped to the ground to pick up the wad of notes.

Ron Reimann, prosecuting, took up the sorry tale: "Mr Ripa stepped back and was suddenly punched with a clenched right fist on the left hand side of his neck."

"Swinburn then smashed the restaurant's glass door as he pulled it open - and fell over. Mr Ripa then pulled Swinburn to his feet and hit him with his left hand."

The unseemly steeplechase continued when Swinburn landed a punch on his opponent's nose, causing it to bleed, leaving Mr Ripa no choice but to "slap him a couple of times", the court heard. Then, they both fell over.

The son of the former top jockey Wally Swinburn, the Irishman has been one of Britain's leading Flat jockeys for the best part of two decades.

He began his career in September 1977 and rode his first winner at Kempton the following July. He was just 19 when he stormed to victory in the 1981 Derby, the youngest jockey to ever win the feted prize.

Last year he hit the headlines when he was badly injured after being involved in an horrific accident during a race in Hong Kong, which, as Mr Edmondson told the crowded courtroom, left him with a low tolerance for alcohol.

After the hearing, Mr Ripa, who sounds like a magnanimous fellow, simply said he was glad the matter was at an end. "There's not much to say," he declared outside his restaurant, "I'm glad it's all over - and I don't bear any grudges."