Keith Mercer
Jump jockey Keith John Mercer was born in Formby, Merseyside on March 24, 1982. He came into racing late, having stayed at school until he was eighteen to secure the qualifications needed to earn him a place at university. However, he put that off after spending a summer schooling horses for Henrietta Knight.
Jump jockey Keith John Mercer was born in Formby, Merseyside on March 24, 1982. He came into racing late, having stayed at school until he was eighteen to secure the qualifications needed to earn him a place at university. However, he put that off after spending a summer schooling horses for Henrietta Knight.
He started out as amateur rider, turning professional in 2004 and rode as stable jockey to West Witton, Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy. He enjoyed by far the best month of his career in April 2005. That’s when he rode 20-1 shot Joe's Edge to victory in the Scottish Grand National, beating Ruby Walsh on Cornish Rebel in a pulsating finish by a short head. Later that month he won the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on Carlys Quest.
He started out as amateur rider, turning professional in 2004 and rode as stable jockey to West Witton, Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy. He enjoyed by far the best month of his career in April 2005. That’s when he rode 20-1 shot Joe's Edge to victory in the Scottish Grand National, beating Ruby Walsh on Cornish Rebel in a pulsating finish by a short head. Later that month he won the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on Carlys Quest.
Keith went on to ride 195 winners and finished fifth on 100-1 outsider Cerium in the 2009 Grand National. Sadly, his career was interrupted by injuries. They included a double leg fracture in 2010 which kept him out of action for more than a year.
Keith went on to ride 195 winners and finished fifth on 100-1 outsider Cerium in the 2009 Grand National. Sadly, his career was interrupted by injuries. They included a double leg fracture in 2010 which kept him out of action for more than a year.
Keith rode what was to be his last winner on Soudain, trained by Steve Gollings, in a three-mile maiden hurdle at Hexham on December 7, 2011. It was another Gollings-trained runner which brought his career to an end. Three weeks before his thirtieth birthday, on March 3, 2012, his mount Shan Blue was brought down in a handicap hurdle at Kelso. Keith shattered a hand in the fall. It required reconstructing with seven pieces of metal being inserted and it was no longer as strong as it needed to be.
Keith rode what was to be his last winner on Soudain, trained by Steve Gollings, in a three-mile maiden hurdle at Hexham on December 7, 2011. It was another Gollings-trained runner which brought his career to an end. Three weeks before his thirtieth birthday, on March 3, 2012, his mount Shan Blue was brought down in a handicap hurdle at Kelso. Keith shattered a hand in the fall. It required reconstructing with seven pieces of metal being inserted and it was no longer as strong as it needed to be.
He rode out for a while but it still wasn’t strong enough. Eventually, in August 2012, he announced his retirement and enrolled in an accountancy and finance degree course at Teesside University, having developed an interest in finance and property while still a jockey.
He rode out for a while but it still wasn’t strong enough. Eventually, in August 2012, he announced his retirement and enrolled in an accountancy and finance degree course at Teesside University, having developed an interest in finance and property while still a jockey.
He qualified in 2016 with a first-class honours degree in accountancy and finance. In November 2017 he was selected to receive the JETS (Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme) IJF (Injured Jockeys Fund) Progress Award. The IJF award of £2,000 aims to recognise the progress of jockeys embarking on a new career path. He now works as a management accountant at Uinsure, based in Manchester.
He qualified in 2016 with a first-class honours degree in accountancy and finance. In November 2017 he was selected to receive the JETS (Jockeys Employment & Training Scheme) IJF (Injured Jockeys Fund) Progress Award. The IJF award of £2,000 aims to recognise the progress of jockeys embarking on a new career path. He now works as a management accountant at Uinsure, based in Manchester.