David Maxwell 'went through all the stages of grief' before making agonising decision to retire from riding after breaking back

A huge amount of Corinthian spirit has been lost to jump racing following the decision of amateur jockey David Maxwell to stop riding on doctor's advice after breaking his back for the fourth time.

Maxwell's exit from the saddle will also result in the owner-rider selling his horses in a dispersal sale next month. The 47-year-old has not ridden since May, having discovered he had fractured his back in a fall in the previous month's Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

The successful businessman, who was amateur champion in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, had many memorable days riding under rules in his red and brown silks. He competed against the top professionals in some of the biggest jump races and finished sixth in the 2024 Grand National on Ain't That A Shame.

"It's a very difficult decision and once the problem started to become evident, I went through all the stages of grief," he said. "It's cumulative in the spine really and that's where the tingling in the arm came from. When you're in late middle age you don't heal as fast, if at all.

David Maxwell celebrates a win on Dolphin Square at Cheltenham in 2022Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's very hard, but ultimately I'm 47 and those kids I was galloping beside are 25 years younger than me and made of rubber."

Maxwell's highest-level success came on Cat Tiger in a Grade 3 chase at Auteuil in 2018, six days after he had bought the four-year-old at the sales in France.

He rode 75 winners in Britain and one in Ireland when steering Bob And Co to a nose victory over the Patrick Mullins-ridden Billaway in the Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown festival in 2021.

• 'The last of the Corinthians' - Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs hail David Maxwell as amateur jockey bows out 

Maxwell grew up in a racing family as his father Jeremy trained 1988 Grand National winner Rhyme ‘N’ Reason as a young horse from their family yard in Northern Ireland before selling him.

However, he did not start race-riding in a meaningful way until his late twenties, with a first win under rules coming in the 2009-10 season. 

David Maxwell en route to winning a 3m handicap chase at Ascot on In D'Or Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

On his highlights in the saddle, he said: "I had brilliant fun. There were some lovely horses – that's the bit I love and what I'll miss. 

"The standout was the Grand National. There was also Chef D'Equipe at Sandown [in 2018]. He was a difficult ride but I loved riding him, he was a brilliant jumper. Any time you win a race is a good day."

Maxwell drew respect from many for his passion for racing, but he was also often criticised by punters for his performance in the saddle, which he said "never really worried me too much".

Having made the tough call to hang up his riding boots, he is ending his ownership interests in Britain by selling off his horses at Cheltenham on October 24. The sale will include El Cairos, a smart bumper horse last season who finished fifth in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival and second at the Punchestown festival. 

"I'm selling them because I hate watching other people riding my horses," he said. "It's a whole different thing when you've been riding them.

David Maxwell: member of the Jockey Club's property boardCredit: Sophie Webber Photography

"We're going to have a dispersal of about 16. I've got about 20 in training and a couple will retire and there are a couple in France I won't be tempted to ride."

Maxwell, who is a member of the Jockey Club's property board, is aiming to stay involved in British racing as much as possible.

"I'm going to have to go through some serious cold turkey as I don't have any concept of what to replace the riding with," he said.

"When you love horses and have been involved in racing for as long as I have, you can't not retain an interest in it. It's a matter of finding how to do it without it driving me mad."

Read more . . .

'The last of the Corinthians' - Paul Nicholls and Philip Hobbs hail David Maxwell as amateur jockey bows out 

It felt like a weird Derby at the time - but few things are so forgivable as a bad run around Epsom 

Back from a heart attack at 57 to win on a horse who 'wouldn't get the trip in a horsebox' - what a legend! 

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