Manny Mercer
Emmanuel Lionel Mercer (15 November 1928 – 26 September 1959) was an English thoroughbred horse racing jockey. A brother of jockey Joe Mercer, he was married to the daughter of trainer Harry Wragg. Their daughters were Joanna and Carolyn, who married jockey Pat Eddery.
| Manny Mercer | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 15 November 1928 Bradford, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 26 September 1959 (aged 30) Ascot, Berkshire, England |
| Career wins | 978 in UK |
| Major racing wins | |
| (Selected) Cesarewitch Handicap (1951) Washington, D.C. International (1952) John Porter Stakes (1953) Queen Anne Stakes (1953) 1,000 Guineas Stakes (1953) 2,000 Guineas Stakes (1954) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Happy Laughter, Wilwyn, Darius | |
A leading jockey throughout most of the 1950s, in 1954 Mercer won eighty-eight races, finishing second in the jockey standings to Doug Smith. During his shortened career, Mercer won two British Classic Races, capturing the 1953 1,000 Guineas Stakes aboard Happy Laughter, and the 1954 2,000 Guineas Stakes on Darius. In 1952 he gained much media attention in the United States for his masterful ride on Wilwyn in winning the inaugural running of the Washington, D.C. International at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland.
Mercer died on 26 September 1959 when a filly named Priddy Fair threw him before the start of the Red Deer Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Mercer was fatally kicked in the head as he fell to the ground. Reporting on his death, The Age newspaper in Melbourne called Mercer "one of Britain's most brilliant race riders".[1] In a 2009 Racing Post article by John Cobb marking the fiftieth anniversary of Mercer's death, he was called "one of its [racing's] brightest stars".
Manny Mercer Court in Newmarket, Suffolk is named in his memory. He is buried in Newmarket Cemetery.
References
- Ocala Star-Banner – 27 September 1959 article on the death of Manny Mercer
- c.1945 photo of Manny Mercer from Getty Images