Industry News

Leading British jockey of his generation hailed as the great stylist of the weighing room

The jockey Joe Mercer, who has died aged 86 of a heart attack, rode 2,810 winners in Britain between 1950 and 1985. Beyond that bare statistic is a list of stellar horses, notably the incomparable Brigadier Gerard, who ran in 18 races between 1970 and 1972 and was beaten only once.

Riding Bustino against Grundy at Ascot in July 1975, Mercer played a leading role in a contest that still brings tears to racing fans’ eyes, and the roll-call of memorable horses to have benefited from the skills of this exemplary horseman includes Highclere, Kris, Le Moss, Buckskin and Time Charter.