Off Topic RIP May
- Thread starter Chazz Rheinhold
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
RIP 8 children and 1 teacher killed in School shooting in Russian city of Kazan. Horrified to hear of the school shootings, my thoughts are with all those who have tragically lost family and friends during a school day. Absolutely heart breaking.
58 blown up by a bomb set off outside a school by religious nutters. Surprised nobody has posted that one.
You must log in or register to see media
RIP
Joe Mercer, riding great in Flat’s golden era for jockeys, dies aged 86
Tony Paley
@tonypaley
Mon 17 May 2021 16.56 BST
First published on Mon 17 May 2021 14.38 BST
Joe Mercer, jockey of the legendary racehorse Brigadier Gerard and one of the riding greats during a golden era in Flat racing, has died at the age of 86.
The popular rider enjoyed a lengthy career at the top of the game after becoming champion apprentice in 1953, riding over 2,800 winners in a remarkable 36 seasons in the saddle. He partnered his last winner in 1985 and was made an OBE in 1980 for his services to the sport.
He will also forever be associated with what many turf commentators even at the time labelled the single greatest race on British soil – the 1975 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes clash at Ascotwon by Grundy in which Mercer rode the runner-up Bustino. No race since has seriously challenged the epic duel for that title.
The laid-back Mercer, who earned the nickname Smokin’ Joe due to his habit of relaxing between races with his customary pipe, was champion jockey in 1979 and rode eight British Classic winners during a period when Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery were in their pomp.
Carson himself was quick to pay tribute and told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s a very, very sad day to lose my great mate Joe, I know he was a fair age but it’s the end of an era.
“He was a real stylist in the saddle and rode a lot of good horses. I took his job, unfortunately, from Dick Hern, and he walked into Henry Cecil’s yard and he made him a champion. Although I took his job, we were great friends until today, basically. It’s so sad.
Joe Mercer, left, winning the 1972 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Brigadier Gerard.Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Ima
“You look at these jockeys today bouncing in the saddle, please get the films out of Joe Mercer. Now there’s the ultimate jockey, that’s how jockeys should look. He was a really stylish jockey and he rode in a manner that was easy on the eye.
“Joe was the ultimate jockey, he was regarded in my time as the ultimate professional. He was liked by everyone, he wasn’t aggressive in any way. In the weighing room he was everybody’s friend, you could see Joe sitting in the corner with a pipe in his mouth, puffing away.”
Prior to Frankel, who ended his stellar career with a rating of 147, Timeform rated Brigadier Gerard joint-top with Tudor Minstrel on 144 in their rankings of all-time British Flat horses. “The Brigadier” won 17 of his 18 starts, successful in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Eclipse, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
The 1971 running of the 2,000 Guineasbrought Brigadier Gerard to public prominence after he beat both My Swallow and the future Derby and Arc winner Mill Reef. The horse’s only defeat came when a shock runner-up to Roberto in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York when Mercer later said he was sick on the day and “mucus poured out of him”.
Mercer said of Brigadier Gerard: “He was a freak horse with tremendous enthusiasm and speed the class to win beyond his distance. He was a horse you never thought about getting beat on.”
Mercer was beaten on Bustino at Ascot in a race for the ages after a long sustained battle up the home straight with the 1975 Derby winner Grundy. The former Guardian racing correspondent Chris Hawkins wrote a book on that King George, stating: “So emotionally riveting had been the battle, that women were breaking down in tears and men meandered in a daze, muttering ‘What a race? Did you ever see such a contest?’”
Joe Mercer, riding great in Flat’s golden era for jockeys, dies aged 86
Tony Paley
You must log in or register to see images
@tonypaley
Mon 17 May 2021 16.56 BST
First published on Mon 17 May 2021 14.38 BST
Joe Mercer, jockey of the legendary racehorse Brigadier Gerard and one of the riding greats during a golden era in Flat racing, has died at the age of 86.
The popular rider enjoyed a lengthy career at the top of the game after becoming champion apprentice in 1953, riding over 2,800 winners in a remarkable 36 seasons in the saddle. He partnered his last winner in 1985 and was made an OBE in 1980 for his services to the sport.
He will also forever be associated with what many turf commentators even at the time labelled the single greatest race on British soil – the 1975 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes clash at Ascotwon by Grundy in which Mercer rode the runner-up Bustino. No race since has seriously challenged the epic duel for that title.
The laid-back Mercer, who earned the nickname Smokin’ Joe due to his habit of relaxing between races with his customary pipe, was champion jockey in 1979 and rode eight British Classic winners during a period when Lester Piggott, Willie Carson and Pat Eddery were in their pomp.
Carson himself was quick to pay tribute and told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s a very, very sad day to lose my great mate Joe, I know he was a fair age but it’s the end of an era.
“He was a real stylist in the saddle and rode a lot of good horses. I took his job, unfortunately, from Dick Hern, and he walked into Henry Cecil’s yard and he made him a champion. Although I took his job, we were great friends until today, basically. It’s so sad.
You must log in or register to see images
Joe Mercer, left, winning the 1972 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Brigadier Gerard.Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Ima
“You look at these jockeys today bouncing in the saddle, please get the films out of Joe Mercer. Now there’s the ultimate jockey, that’s how jockeys should look. He was a really stylish jockey and he rode in a manner that was easy on the eye.
“Joe was the ultimate jockey, he was regarded in my time as the ultimate professional. He was liked by everyone, he wasn’t aggressive in any way. In the weighing room he was everybody’s friend, you could see Joe sitting in the corner with a pipe in his mouth, puffing away.”
Prior to Frankel, who ended his stellar career with a rating of 147, Timeform rated Brigadier Gerard joint-top with Tudor Minstrel on 144 in their rankings of all-time British Flat horses. “The Brigadier” won 17 of his 18 starts, successful in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Eclipse, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
The 1971 running of the 2,000 Guineasbrought Brigadier Gerard to public prominence after he beat both My Swallow and the future Derby and Arc winner Mill Reef. The horse’s only defeat came when a shock runner-up to Roberto in the 1972 Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York when Mercer later said he was sick on the day and “mucus poured out of him”.
Mercer said of Brigadier Gerard: “He was a freak horse with tremendous enthusiasm and speed the class to win beyond his distance. He was a horse you never thought about getting beat on.”
Mercer was beaten on Bustino at Ascot in a race for the ages after a long sustained battle up the home straight with the 1975 Derby winner Grundy. The former Guardian racing correspondent Chris Hawkins wrote a book on that King George, stating: “So emotionally riveting had been the battle, that women were breaking down in tears and men meandered in a daze, muttering ‘What a race? Did you ever see such a contest?’”
You must log in or register to see media
There’s quite a few posts suggesting Chris Chilton has passed away. It was before my time watching City. But I wish I’d had the opportunity to see him playing for City.
RIP Chillo.
Just heard the sad news. I was fortunate enough to see Chris Chilton in his prime for Hull City. I saw every home game he played in from the back end of 1964 to him joining Coventry. He truly was as good as everyone claims. I also had the pleasure of meeting him personally on a few occasions much later on his life and he was a gentleman. It was always an honour to be in his company. Chris Chilton the greatest number 9 in the clubs history. RIP matey and thanks for the memories.
Definitely a separate thread.So many memories to share.
There's obviously no problem showing your respects to a local hero on either thread, but a Chillo specific one has been started here...https://www.not606.com/threads/rip-chris-chilton.393143/
RIP RON Ron Hill dead at 82: British Olympic running legend and founder of sports clothing range dies.
The British athlete was only the second man to break the 2hr 10m marathon barrier.
During an incredible career, Hill ran every day for over 52 years between 1963 and 2017 - to this day the longest streak in history.
He broke world records at FOUR different distances and represented Great Britain in the marathon at two Olympic Games - Tokyo 1964 and Munich 1972.
In 1969, Hill won the marathon at the European Championships, before taking gold in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in 1970 - the same year in which he won the Boston Marathon.
He also won the Enschede Marathon in Holland twice - in 1973 and 1975.
The British athlete was only the second man to break the 2hr 10m marathon barrier.
During an incredible career, Hill ran every day for over 52 years between 1963 and 2017 - to this day the longest streak in history.
He broke world records at FOUR different distances and represented Great Britain in the marathon at two Olympic Games - Tokyo 1964 and Munich 1972.
In 1969, Hill won the marathon at the European Championships, before taking gold in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in 1970 - the same year in which he won the Boston Marathon.
He also won the Enschede Marathon in Holland twice - in 1973 and 1975.
Someone younger uns may not be aware of but a major figure when us old uns were young uns ourselves. Worth reading about for those who didn't know much of him.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...Hill-ran-day-record-52-years-died-age-82.html
Barney Curley 81..... the man who put the bookies to the sword more times than they care to remember... in his later years, he dedicated his time to charity work, donating millions...
Last edited:
