Tributes paid to Joe Mercer, as Brigadier Gerard’s rider dies, aged 86

PA Sport Reporters
May 17, 2021 3:30 pm

‘He was a great jockey, but an even better man’.

Joe Mercer, who famously partnered the mighty Brigadier Gerard among other great names in racing history, has died aged 86.

Mercer was one of the giants of the Flat racing scene until his retirement in 1985, being crowned champion jockey once, winning eight British Classics and riding over 2,800 winners in his 37-year career.

Mercer counted Brigadier Gerard as his most high-profile mount, with the duo beating Mill Reef in the 1971 2000 Guineas, before going on to add the likes of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Eclipse and Champion Stakes in a superlative career.

Brigadier Gerard won a superb renewal of the 2000 Guineas (PA)

Bustino was another of Bradford-born Mercer’s headline horses as the pair were involved in epic battle in the 1975 King George, eventually having to settle for second behind Pat Eddery and Grundy after an enthralling battle up the Ascot straight.

Mercer also won the 1000 Guineas aboard Highclere at Newmarket for the Queen in 1974.

Following his retirement, Mercer, who was made an OBE for his services to racing in 1980, went on to become racing manager for the late Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum, with former weighing-room colleague Bruce Raymond joining him as assistant in 1994.

Raymond paid tribute to his friend, saying: “It was quite a shock, it was very unexpected. I would speak to him every Saturday and he called me on Sunday to talk about the Lockinge.

“He was a really nice man – he was the sort of guy who liked people that really shouldn’t have been liked! He never had a bad word to say about anyone.

“He was also the kind of man who was always first. When you were in the changing rooms, we’d be told ‘caps on’ and he’d be the first to be ready, then he’d be first out into the paddock. If you were meeting him at 7pm at a restaurant, he’d be there five minutes early and then tell you you were late!

The Queen gets a first-hand account from Joe Mercer after his win on her filly Highclere in the 1000 Guineas (PA)

“I remember when I was a young rider, about 17, I beat him in the City And Suburban Handicap and that was quite the feather in my cap, to beat Joe Mercer.

“It was due to Joe that I came to work for Sheikh Maktoum. He got me a job as retained rider behind Pat Eddery and Walter Swinburn, but then when I was 50, I broke my neck in a fall and he said ‘give it up and come to work with me’ and here I am, 25 years or so later.

“Joe was a good rider, a great stylist and someone everybody could look up to.”

He added: “Obviously Brigadier Gerard was a highlight, but Joe had so many good horses around that time, including Kris for Sir Henry Cecil and Le Moss in the Gold Cup.

“He was a great jockey, but an even better man. He’s not just a sad loss to racing, but he’s a sad loss to everyone that knew him. He was just a great guy.”