Joe Mercer

Joseph Mercer, OBE (25 October 1934 – 17 May 2021) was an English thoroughbred race horse jockey. He was active from 1947 to 1985, riding 2,810 winners in Britain. Mercer's nickname was "Smokin' Joe.”

He was apprenticed to trainer Frederick Sneyd, and he won his first British Classic race on Ambiguity in the 1953 Epsom Oaks as an apprentice. He was British flat racing Champion Apprentice in 1952 and 1953.

He subsequently worked as stable jockey for Jack Colling, Dick Hern, Henry Cecil and Peter Walwyn. While at Cecil's yard, he won his only British flat racing Champion Jockey's title in 1979. Mercer's most successful ride was Brigadier Gerard, who won all but one of 18 races between 1970 and 1972. Mercer won every British Classic except the Derby, although he twice was runner-up.

Shortly after his retirement, he was the subject of a biography by Richard Baerlein: Joe Mercer The Pictorial Biography Queen Ann Press (1987).

Personal life Mercer is survived by his wife, Deanna Anne Carr, the daughter of jockey Harry Carr. His older brother, Manny Mercer, was also a jockey and died in a racing accident in 1959. His niece, Carolyn, was married to jockey Pat Eddery.

Mercer was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1980 Birthday Honours.