Bustino, thanks for getting the thread 'back on track.' You'll have to excuse the flippancy of yours truly. Yes, Remand had 'Derby winner' written all over him as a two year old. Very sad that he was ruined by the virus, preventing Joe Mercer winning the Derby. What a wonderful advert for the sport Joe Mercer was- and still is. A true gentleman! Why did Hern sack him in favour of Carson, by the way?
Bustino, thanks for asking. I played like a 6 furlong sprinter running over 2 miles- faded rather badly! Still I win my fair share, given my 'bandit handicap.'
QM. Did you hear Jim McGrath today? Quoting "you can give weight but you can't give a start". Does he often contradict himself?
Back from dinner I'm hopeless at golf but enjoy going round. My company sponsored two events in '07 and '08 both in the Midlands. Thie first was at the Notts Golf Club (actually just outside Mansfield) but the second at a course near to the Belfry. The Notts one was a Open Qualifying course and absolutely magnificent. The 2nd course was equally good. That part of Birmingham is so beautiful. The Mercer 'sacking' in 1976 created an enormous amount of bile at the time. Mercer had been first jockey at West Ilsley since 1953 and had won the Oaks in his first year as stable jockey. When he started the stable was owned by Jack Colling (the trainer) but when he retired in 1962 he sold it to one of his key patrons, Jakie Astor. Whatever you think of rich owner-breeders and whatever you think of the Astors Jakie was always treated as a true gentleman of the turf. He installed Dick Hern as the trainer and listened to Hern's comments on things. Hern felt the stable staff needed better housing so Astor built housing for them such that Hern wasn't known as the Major but as the Mayor. Mercer remained as stable jockey and the Hern/Mercer partnership flourished. Mercer was no stranger to Hern as he'd used him when available to ride for him when he was Lionel Holiday's private trainer. In 1965 they had a fabulous year winning the English and Irish St Legers with Provoke and Craighouse. Then disaster struck. West Ilsley was hit by the virus from which id didn't recover until the end of 1969. If you rate Scobie Breasley as the man, then I rate Joe Mercer as the man. We will never agree but that doesn't matter, they were both fine jockeys (and I'd agree second only to Lester). In 1967 although interested in racing I became more aware and watched Mercer ride a 3yo colt called The Accuser to win a race at Ascot. He was hard at work for at least the last mile of the race but never resorted to the whip. Despite coming off the bridle before any other horse in the race Mercer rode him home in front. He was working so hard yet never lost rhythm. I was enthralled. That year Hern had some remission from the virus and actually won 60 races with 60 horses (an amazing hit rate). Mercer was leading the jockey's championship by a long way by mid-August and everyone was expecting him to win his first championship. It wasn't to be. He broke a vertebrae in a fall on a spare ride at Folkestone and sat out the rest of the season. In '68 and '69 the virus returned. Mercer was approached by his long tine admirer Peter Walwyn to become his stable jockey but Mercer stayed loyal to Hern and his owners. In 1970 it paid off when a certain Brigadier arrived in the stable. The virus fortunately also disappeared. At the end of 1970 Gordon Richards knew he had to leave his Whitsbury Stables as William Hill (the owner) wanted them back for breeding. Weinstock and Sobell (Richards' key owners) approached Astor to see if he would sell West Ilsley. Astor agreed on the condition that Hern and Mercer were kept in place. This forced Richards to retire as a trainer and to become the Racing Manager for Sobell/Weinstock (and Lady Beaverbrook) and Edward Hide to return to the north, having been Richards jockey after the retirement of Breasley. 1971 couldn't have been a better start (putting aside the Brigadier). The stable (and Sobell/Weinstock) had two crack 2yos in Sun Prince and Sallust (who won the Coventry and Richmond Stakes between them). They also had the very good Ragusa colt Homeric who gave Sobell his best placing in a classic when beaten a neck in the St Leger. 1972 was almost as good with Sun Prince running a rattling good race in the 2000G and then winning the James Palace Stakes, and Sallust becoming the champion European Miler winning the Sussex, Moulin and other big races. 1973 was a bit of a quieter year, although Sun Prince won for the third year at Royal Ascot when winning the Queen Anne Stakes. If there was a watershed year it was 1974. Sobell/Weinstock won a classic at last with Gaily winning the 1000G but ridden by Ron Hutchinson as Mercer chose to ride Boldboy to win the Lockinge. Peter Weinstock also entered the arena. Then still at Cambridge he had a 2yo colt callecd Auction Ring. A good colt he won at Newbury in June and then went on to take the July Stakes a fortnight later both in the hands of Mercer. That was his highlight for the year but at Newbury that year Peter challenged Mercer to his riding of a horse and asked why he didn't come round the outside. Mercer gave him short thrift in his reply saying if the horse was good enough he could have followed a bus up the inside. Apparently the story is that Sobell/Weinstocks didn't like being told their swans were geese. In this characteristic Mercer was much like Piggott who would often get off a winning horse and tell the owner to get rid of the horse as he (she's ) a cow. Weinstock is supposed to have made his mind up at Goodwood 1974 when Mercer was beaten a short-head on their colt by a late run with everything thrown in by Willie Carson. He decided he didn't like the way Mercer put his horses in the race early rather than coming with a late run and thought Mercer was unduly hard on 2yos. The fact that Mercer hardly ever resorted to the whip, unless absolutely necessary, and generally rode in a rhythmical style ( that Frenchie Nicholson told all his apprentices (Cook, Fox, Eddery, Swinburn to imitate)) appeared lost on Weinstock. The die was cast. Next season, 1975, was a good one and Mercer rode many winners for Sobell/Weinstock. At the end of the season he seemed to be looking ahead to a fabulous season with many promising 2yos ( a few of them Sobell/Weinstocks). What wasn't known was that Weinstock had already told Hern to tell Mercer that 1976 was to be his last as stable jockey at West Ilsley. '76 was a good year (though not particularly for Sobell/Weinstock) and the stable appeared to have a live Derby chance in Relkino (owned by Beaverbrook). Mercer rode a super race on a non-staying colt (he won the Lockinge and the Juddmonte the next year) and was run out of it in the last furlong by Empery. After taking the plaudits Mercer said he'd had enough and wanted the announcement made that he was to be sacked. Before racing the next day Hern and Lord Porchester walked to the Press Office and Porchester read a prepared statement explaining that Mercer would finish as stable jockey at the end of the season and that Willie Carson would assume the role. All hell broke loose. It is hard to imagine the vitriol and passion that was spilt in the press following the announcement. Oaksey immediately on ITV said 'what is there not to like about Joe Mercer', Lady Beaverbrook who was unaware of the change said ' I don't mind Carson riding my lightweights' and Dick Hollingsworth said ' The Mercers have ridden for me since the early '50s, I am happy with that'. Carson, who was then Clive Brittain's stable jockey did not reveal a thing to his boss. Captain Marcos Lemos (the owner of Pebbles) was the stables' key owner and said it was disgusting and that he should have been the first to know. Mercer said only two things 'he who pays the piper calls the tune' and with more passion ' they must have wanted him for his experience'. Weinstock who was seen as the villian of the piece was roundly castigated but so was Hern. For many Hern was as in a strong enough position to have made a stand. Yes he'd have lost Sobell/Weinstock but he could have set up elsewhere. There was a chill about Hern from the press after that and it didn't really warm until Hern himself was upended by Porchester (then Carnarvon) in 1978. In his autobiography in 2000 Hern said he often wondered if he should have sat Mercer down and told him that Weinstock was not happy with his riding and his comments but didn't want to upset things (as much as I admire Dick Hern a particularly weak comment to my mind). After Troy had won the Deby Weinstock reflected on 1976 and said how much it had wounded him. As he said it was his decision and Mercer was a waning asset (sic). He also said Mercer was a businessman and he wanted someone who lived only for his horses. He felt Carson was that man. No one came out of this with credit. Within 2 weeks Mercer was snapped up as Henry Cecil's new stable jockey. In 3 years he was at last champion jockey. Hard to believe how much trouble this caused. Apparently Carson wasn't popular at first and early in the season Hern was heard shouting at him 'now come on, if you are going to ride for me you'll have to do better than that'. Probably the victory of Dunfermline changed things. An interesting story about Dunfermline. Mercer rode her as a 2yo to be placed 3 times. In the last race she was beaten by a good filly called Miss Pinkie in the Fillies Mile. Piggott who rode Miss Pinkie said Dunfermline was ingenuine. Mercer disagreed and said she was just green and would get better and better. Carson didn't even rate her as the best 3yo filly in the yard. I know for a fact that when he attended the Wilkinson Sword Horse racing Preseason Dinner he was congratulated on getting the Hern retainer and replied to the Marketing Manager of WS whom I knew well 'Why? He hasn't got anything' and then in a cackle 'the money's better'. In 1977 Hern won two classic, the Sussex Stakes, the Juddmonte and countless Group races. I have no doubt that Carson was a very good jockey but Mercer was definitely a better stable jockey and to my mind a much better jockey. I warned you Tamerlo to not get me started!!! Still I stayed up and watched my nap Skilful waltz in.
Bustino, heartfelt thanks for a wonderfully detailed and clear explanation. Although I was aware of the owners and most of the horses you mentioned, I did not know the real reason for the rift. When I was in my teens, I always took it for granted that Piggott, Breasley, and Mercer were the top jockeys; and Carson was just an apprentice then. When he became a fully fledged jockey, i just saw him as a very good lightweight rider- but not in the class of the above three. I accept I'm not qualified to judge, but Carson came across as "rowing away with hands and heels" but without any tactical finesse or great jockeyship. It's ironic that Breasley stayed loyal to Richards/Sobell all those years and could have had the Murless job . Lester went freelance from Murless, but always had Vincent O'Brien to fall back on. Yet Joe Mercer who gave his all to RJ Colling and then Dick Hern was forced out! My guess was that Weinstock(or maybe Sobell) might be involved, but I did not know. Didn't Weinstock only take far more interest after Richards retired? I don't remember his having many horses in Scobie's days, if any? I assumed he and Sobell went into partnership. Anyway, Joe did get a plum job with Henry Cecil and became champion jockey (as you say) but doubtless he would still have preferred to stay with the Hern stable-even if Cecil could have guaranteed the huge success he had riding for him. Re. Dick Hern, I accept he would not have wanted to lose the Sobell pale blue colours, but he should have stood by Joe Mercer. I always admired Joe, but I like him even more, now you have told me the full story. I can't say the same about Dick Hern. Thanks again, Bustino, for all the trouble you have taken. PS. What did you think of Gordon Richards as a trainer. My father didn't rate him very highly and I tend to agree. He never won a Classic (I know that's not everything) and probably the only two horses he trained that could have won one- Reform and Greengage- were never entered! I don't know why, unless their Stallions (Pall Mall & especially Primera) were unfashionable and the two horses weren't expected to come up to scratch. Ironically, Primera also sired the champion middle distance filly in '66, Murless' Aunt Edith.
Bustino what joy I have had reading your words tonight. A wonderfully comprehensive piece on a part of racing history that I had very little knowledge of. Another one of those true nuggets that makes this forum such fantastic reading. Many thanks
Excellent , Bustino and Tam, i agree with Oddy,Who needs Wiki when we have people like you on not 606.
Well that's just my viewpoint and I'd like to say a few things on some points. It was easy to criticise Hern, but he was a salaried employee. In a similar situation does one leave the company because a workmate you have is (unjustly) sacked? Some do, more don't. As Frank Field says there are few political VCs that would have been awarded over the years. I think Hern could have resigned but he didn't have a Hamdan around. Astor was a waning force, Rotherwick was more of a gentleman owner and Beaverbrook would have stayed with Richards. I think it did have a knock on effect on the Queen. She obviously kept out of all the fuss but I think this episode resulted in her buying West Ilsley 5 years later: which turned out to be a disaster. It is also easy to criticise Weinstock but this was one of the finest businessmen Britain has ever produced. Goodness do we need his wisdom now. After the initial flash of success at West Ilsley things went a bit quiet on the homebred front although some bought in horses did better. I think Ballymacoll were going through a dip (they might be going through one now). Weinstock acted and who is to say he didn't do the right thing. Mercer was 43 and Carson was much younger, and maybe Carson was the better bet for the future. The results turned round in '78 and in '79 they won the Derby. I always admired Weinstock. What I didn't like and what many people didn't like was the way it was done. It is known that Hern, Mercer and Weinstock knew and later obviously Carson knew. But outside of that it is not clear. The other owners certainly didn't know. But did Richards know? When did Porchester know. From what you glean Mercer forced the disclosure which I'm sure he was right to do as it was his livelihood. The crux of the whole matter is 'do the ''manners'' of the industrial boardroon have a place in the world of racing'. Discuss. Some stuff on Mercer. When Frenchie Nicholson died his son David was interviewd on CH4. They showed videos of Cook, Murray, Eddery etc and then Nicholson surprisingly said but Joe Mercer was the best jockey. Unfortunately the interviewer saw it as a non-sequitur and didn't pick up on it. You can read what Nicholson felt in his autobiograpphy. John Hanmer who was a racereader for Raceform was always certain that Mercer was a better jockey than Piggott. As he says I've watched them for years and few will agree with me. I think Hern was just a better trainer than Richards. Walwyn says Richard's horses always looked too well, as if he was not training them hard enough.
Good morning, Bustino. "The crux of the whole matter is 'do the ''manners'' of the industrial boardroon have a place in the world of racing'." Your point is well made concerning the employer-employee relationship. I accept that a training or breeding establishment is an expensive enterprise and, as such, should be run on 'business lines.' Bankruptcy serves no-one- except the Official Receiver! On that basis it is hard to criticise the Weinstocks. As my GEC Group MD, I worked for Arnold Weinstock for years in his private Telecomms Division, Reliance Systems. As the largest UK employer at the time- embracing 108 companies-he certainly was successful! Therefore, the question is ....."Was Joe Mercer dismissed because he wasn't doing his job properly, or was Carson seen as the better investment? Or both?" From a business aspect, one or the other had to apply- one would have thought. I suppose many onlookers have tended to view horse racing's milieu as a traditional gentleman's 'nobility club' or even an oligarchy of the privileged few.I imagine Joe Mercer's sacking rocked the boat of that antiquated outlook, not only because of the way it was done but also because it 'breached club rules.' The real reason may be much simpler....Joe said things they didn't like ie. his face didn't fit . The main thing is Joe moved on and continued to have a good livelihood in racing. As you said, he always had 'great rhythm' as a jockey and, when I have seen him interviewed (sadly too infrequently), he is highly personable and engaging. A credit to the sport. PS. Was the golf course you played(near The Belfry) Little Aston? it's a lovely course.
Wonderful piece of writing Bustino. There are so many great names mentioned in the article, all legends of the sport. Thanks for the effort mate. Agree with the reviews above.
Well, with now less than a week to go, the Arc countdown well and truly begins. The Betfair markets are now beginning to firm up and suggest the likely runners. There have been some interesting trades today, but so far it seems reasonable at the moment to assume that the lineup will include: Sarafina So You Think Workforce Reliable Man Meandre Galikova Nathaniel (ground dependent- been drifting slightly, out to as much as 11s) Snow Fairy Hiruno D'Amour Nakayama Festa Danedream St Nicholas Abbey (Trading between 40s and 50s after initially being traded at near to 100 again yesterday) Seville (AOB said as it stands, Seville, So You Think, and St Nicholas Abbey are set to go but jockey bookings are not confirmed- no word on Fame and Glory so perhaps he will not have a third tilt at the Arc) All of those horses are trading at 50s or less, whilst all other horses are at least 100+, which you would think is a fair indicator, barring surprise inclusions. Vadamar connections have stated he will target a different race so he looks very unlikely, and Teddy Grimthorpe suggested Sea Moon could have a tilt at Breeders Cup Turf, but no decision would be made until after the Arc, so it has to be assumed Sea Moon will be scratched this week, which is unfortunate as I think he looked a rapidly improving 3 year old colt. A fair few trades have been happening throughout the afternoon so I expect we will hear more regarding the Arc in tomorrows press. Will be interesting to follow.
The 10/1 about Nathaniel looks very tempting indeed. I fully understand the argument that the King George form isn't worth the paper it is written on, but, nevertheless, i am a big fan of the horse and think the race will suit. The one concern is that his participation must be in serious doubt and that puts me off taking the price. Looking at the forecast for the week ahead in Paris it is supposed to be sunshine and 25+ degrees all week. Unless they get the watering can out it could well be much firmer than normal. Perhaps that will mean Nathaniel is rerouted to Ascot and So You Think takes his chance, rather than vice versa.
Zenyatta, I fancy Nathaniel as well, but I think you can afford to leave that price for now-from my experience English raiders on Arc day tend to be a good price on the Pari Mutuel.
Continental Europe looks like being bathed in late-summer sunshine for the foreseeable so I think you can strike through the mudlarks
I suppose I'm being lazy but does anyone have a ready made list of what horse have a distinct advantage/disadvantage depending on the going. If the going is firm I would guess Workforce won't be running. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't run to his best on firm.
Nathaniel has a 'soft-ground action' so the more cut the better for him, though he did nothing wrong on quick enough ground at Chester in May. However if it looks like it could be good to soft for Champions Day, I would not be surprised to see him line up there. I'm not sure what to think with Workforce, I think he can run well on firm surfaces but I think SMS worries if it can take too much out of him.
