The names of Joe Mercer and Brigadier Gerard will be united once more with the announcement that Sandown's Group 3 contest which carries the name of the great horse will this year be run in memory of his former jockey, who died on Monday.
Set to be run on Thursday, May 27 during Sandown's elite evening meeting, the 10-furlong race will now be named The Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (In memory of Joe Mercer).
Brigadier Gerard (GB) (Queen's Hussar {GB}), trained by Dick Hern for his owner/breeders John and Jean Hislop, was beaten just once in an 18-race career. His Group 1 victories included the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. of 1971 as well as the following season's Eclipse S. and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., as well as consecutive wins in the Champion S. Mercer was in the saddle for all of his 18 starts.
“We were deeply saddened to hear of news of Joe Mercer's death earlier this week, and are pleased to be able to mark the occasion in the race which honours the horse he was most famously associated with,” said Phil White, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses.
“Our thanks go to Coral for their assistance in facilitating this and we hope the race will give racing fans and the industry a chance to remember one of the greatest and most stylish jockeys the sport has seen.”
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