Lyndon Mercer
Lyndon Sydney Mercer was the son of Jack Mercer, who in turn was the son of celebrated trainer Syd Mercer. Lyndon served his apprenticeship with Sam Armstrong at Newmarket. He rode his first winner on Popalongabit, trained near Oswestry by Lowther Barratt, in a Liverpool apprentices’ handicap on November 5, 1959.
Lyndon Sydney Mercer was the son of Jack Mercer, who in turn was the son of celebrated trainer Syd Mercer. Lyndon served his apprenticeship with Sam Armstrong at Newmarket. He rode his first winner on Popalongabit, trained near Oswestry by Lowther Barratt, in a Liverpool apprentices’ handicap on November 5, 1959.
In April 1960, although still only 17, he rode with the confidence of an old hand when guiding the mare Passion Flower to victory in a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race for his grandfather Syd Mercer, who had moved to Lambourn after a successful training career in the Midlands. The Sporting Buff reported on young Lyndon’s achievement the following day with two illustrations, one of him winning the race, the other standing alongside his proud father and grandfather.
In April 1960, although still only 17, he rode with the confidence of an old hand when guiding the mare Passion Flower to victory in a Wolverhampton apprentices’ race for his grandfather Syd Mercer, who had moved to Lambourn after a successful training career in the Midlands. The Sporting Buff reported on young Lyndon’s achievement the following day with two illustrations, one of him winning the race, the other standing alongside his proud father and grandfather.
He won another apprentices’ race on Passion Flower at Doncaster in June followed by a similar contest on Rude Awakening for trainer Harry Thomson Jones at Pontefract in August.
He won another apprentices’ race on Passion Flower at Doncaster in June followed by a similar contest on Rude Awakening for trainer Harry Thomson Jones at Pontefract in August.
Although he was able to ride at 6st 11lb for that Doncaster success, the weight soon piled on, to the extent that he was struggling to make 7st 12lb by the end of 1961. For a 7lb claimer in those days, that pretty much spelt the end of his race-riding opportunities. Thus, his only option was to turn to National Hunt racing.
Although he was able to ride at 6st 11lb for that Doncaster success, the weight soon piled on, to the extent that he was struggling to make 7st 12lb by the end of 1961. For a 7lb claimer in those days, that pretty much spelt the end of his race-riding opportunities. Thus, his only option was to turn to National Hunt racing.
Aged 22, Lyndon took out a NH jockey’s licence for the 1964/65 season and made a perfect start, winning on his first ride over hurdles, the Fred Rimell-trained El Paso in the Novice Jockeys’ Hurdle at Stratford on October 1, 1964.
Aged 22, Lyndon took out a NH jockey’s licence for the 1964/65 season and made a perfect start, winning on his first ride over hurdles, the Fred Rimell-trained El Paso in the Novice Jockeys’ Hurdle at Stratford on October 1, 1964.
It would be good to report that that marked the start of a successful career over jumps but sadly it was not the case. Terry Biddlecombe took over the reins on El Paso while Lyndon had only eight more rides and no further winners.
It would be good to report that that marked the start of a successful career over jumps but sadly it was not the case. Terry Biddlecombe took over the reins on El Paso while Lyndon had only eight more rides and no further winners.
He finished fifth on Flag Day II in a novice riders’ selling hurdle at Cheltenham on January 7, 1965. Six days later he had a fall from that same horse in a 32-runner selling hurdle at Leicester. That may possibly have been a career-ending fall, for he did not renew his licence the following season.
He finished fifth on Flag Day II in a novice riders’ selling hurdle at Cheltenham on January 7, 1965. Six days later he had a fall from that same horse in a 32-runner selling hurdle at Leicester. That may possibly have been a career-ending fall, for he did not renew his licence the following season.
Lyndon Mercer’s winners were, in chronological order:
Lyndon Mercer’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Popalongabit, Liverpool, November 5, 1959
1. Popalongabit, Liverpool, November 5, 1959
2. Passion Flower, Wolverhampton, April 11, 1960
2. Passion Flower, Wolverhampton, April 11, 1960
3. Passion Flower, Doncaster, June 24, 1960
3. Passion Flower, Doncaster, June 24, 1960
4. Rude Awakening, Pontefract, August 27, 1960
4. Rude Awakening, Pontefract, August 27, 1960
5. El Paso, Stratford-on-Avon, October 1, 1964
5. El Paso, Stratford-on-Avon, October 1, 1964
