Michael Walker (born 1984) is a New Zealand-born former jockey of Māori ancestry who won the New Zealand premiership and also competed in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
While apprenticed to Sharrock, Walker won 653 races, most in New Zealand (a record 631 wins), but also in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and Macau.
Wanting to further his career, Walker announced in May 2004 that he was moving to Melbourne, Australia, following in the footsteps of other champion New Zealand jockeys, such as Midge Didham, Greg Childs, Brent Thomson, Shane Dye, and the Cassidy brothers, who made their names overseas.
[2] In August 2022, Michael Walker suffered a fall at a jumpout trial meeting at Pakenham, Victoria, and was hospitalised in intensive care and placed in an induced coma to stabilise him.
At the time of his retirement, it was reported that Walker had won 1144 races in New Zealand and more than 2000, including his victories in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.