Joe Mercer was born on 25th October 1934 and is a retired English jockey. His most active career phase took place between 1974 and 1985. He steered more than 2,810 winners throughout his career, a record only surpassed by Sir Gordon Richards, Doug Smith, and Lester Piggott at the time of Mercer’s. As such, Joe Mercer can be said to be among the top four most illustrious jockeys of his time.
Joe Mercer’s attachment to Frederick Sneyd in a successful apprenticeship that lasted fairly long has been cited as one of the the key factors that catapulted him to auspicious sporting success.
Mercer won his first outstanding victory in the British Classic race riding on Ambiguity in 1953. This exemplary feat occured atop Ambiguity in the Epsom Oaks. As a result of his performance, the celebrated jockey received the title of the British flat racing Champion Apprentice on two consecutive years – 1952 and 1953. These triumphs set an enviable career foundation on which Mercer built.
After his promising 1953 showing, the talented flatracer further plunged himself into tireless training. Within less than twenty years after the 1953 success as an incomparably talented protege to Sneyd, Joe Mercer consistently set new highs for future generations of riders.
Later in his career, Joe Mercer operated as a stable jockey for Henry Cecil and Dick Hern. Under Cecil, the professional flat racer won his only British flat racing Champion Jockey title in 1979. His most successful horse remains Brigadier Gerald, a winner on whom Mercer registered 17 out of his 18 wins between 1970 and 1972. After winning the November Handicap in 1985 mounting Bold Rex, Joe Mercer retired after an admirabl and standout career.
