Champion Jockey Joe Mercer memorabilia up for auction in Newbury

Special Auction Services in Newbury is to sell memorabilia belonging to champion jockey Joe Mercer at the beginning of February.

Mr Mercer died in 2021, aged 86, and his widow Anne has decided to sell some of his trophies and other memorabilia.

The auction will take place at the SAS Newbury showrooms in Plenty Close, next Tuesday, February 1.

While the family are keeping most of the more important pieces of memorabilia from Mercer’s long career, she says certain pieces will not suit her new and smaller house so it is time to offer them to horseracing fans.

Joe Mercer was born in Bradford in 1934 and was 15 when he rode his first winner at Bath in 1950.

He was apprentice champion in 1953, the first season in which he was a retained jockey to Jack Colling, who trained at West Ilsley.

He was subsequently stable jockey to Dick Hern and then Henry Cecil.

During his career, Mercer claimed nearly 3,000 domestic victories and his most successful ride was Brigadier Gerard, winner of 17 of his 18 races between 1970 and 1972.

He was champion jockey in 1979.

Mercer was a familiar figure locally and ran a farm at Cold Ash.

Included in the auction will be silver and silver-plated trophies and awards, along with cut-glass trophies including two impressive Waterford Crystal covered bowls.

There will also be paintings and other memorabilia.

Director of SAS Neil Shuttleworth said: “Joe Mercer was a regular visitor at Special Auction Services in Newbury over the years and we have many fond memories and much respect for his career and lifetime in horseracing.

“We are very honoured to be able to celebrate his remarkable career and offer certain trophies and pieces that he earned during his legendary racing history for sale.”

Visit SAS website for more details www.specialauctionservices.com