Joseph Henry Ermer enjoyed a measure of success under both codes during a career that lasted for almost two decades. Because he had already ridden over jumps, he was not entitled to claim an allowance when riding on the Flat, so had to compete on level terms. But that did not prevent him making his first ride on the Flat a winning one. That was on Desert Storm, trained at Epsom by former successful amateur rider Vic Tabor, in the Southern Selling Plate at Kempton Park on Easter Monday, April 1, 1929. Less than a month later, he doubled his score when Money Talks recorded a dour-length success in the Juvenile Selling Plate at Sandown Park.
Despite that promising start, Joseph did not win another race on the Flat for more than two years. Instead, he focused his attention on National Hunt racing, registering his first success in that sphere on Beroadach, also trained by Vic Tabor, in the Piccadilly Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on March 15, 1930. Eleven more wins over jumps followed, with a career-best score of eight in the 1931/32 season, which included a double for Tabor at Gatwick, before Joseph relinquished his jumps licence to concentrate on the Flat.
He had the occasional winner until 1938 but did not hold a licence during the war years. He achieved one final success when 9-4 chance Dinhill, trained by Peter Thrale, won the Lions Lodge Selling Plate at Chepstow on August 5, 1947. It was the first time he had ridden the two-year-old since he had stood still at the start on his racecourse debut at Epsom in June. Joseph did not renew his licence the following year.
Joseph Ermer’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Desert Storm, Kempton Park, April 1, 1929 (Flat)
2. Money Talks, Sandown Park, April 25, 1929 (Flat)
3. Beroadach, Hurst Park, March 15, 1930 (NH)
4. Hilltoi, Fontwell Park, October 9, 1930 (NH)
5. Claudine, Kempton Park, January 31, 1931 (NH)
6. Habeo, Fontwell Park, April 30, 1931 (NH)
7. Careful Sailor, Sandown Park, August 3, 1931 (Flat)
8. Sweet Nothings, Plumpton, December 14, 1931 (NH)
9. Rackstraw, Kempton Park, December 26, 1931 (NH)
10. Beroadach, Gatwick, January 8, 1932 (NH)
11. Kirkgunzeon, Gatwick, January 28, 1932 (NH)
12. Rackstraw, Gatwick, February 20, 1932 (NH)
13. Blitzen, Gatwick, February 20, 1932 (NH)
14. Knight Bachelor, Torquay, March 29, 1932 (NH)
15. Jimmy the One, Folkestone, May 5, 1932 (NH)
16. Bleu de Toi II, Epsom, June 7, 1935 (F)
17. The Shaver, Hurst Park, May 1, 1937 (F)
18. The Shaver, Haydock Park, May 11, 1937 (F)
19. Stolen Land, Lingfield Park, May 21, 1938 (F)
20. Dinhill, Chepstow, August 5, 1947 (F)