Bruce Raymond
Bruce Raymond was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on May 10 1943 and, from 1959 to 1964, was apprenticed to Willie Stephenson (whose daughter Jillian he married on December 2, 1965).
Bruce Raymond was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, on May 10 1943 and, from 1959 to 1964, was apprenticed to Willie Stephenson (whose daughter Jillian he married on December 2, 1965).
His first winner came on Arctic Bar at Birmingham on June 19, 1961 and, just a year later, he was top apprentice with just 13 winners, which remains the lowest winning total ever (outside of the war years).
His first winner came on Arctic Bar at Birmingham on June 19, 1961 and, just a year later, he was top apprentice with just 13 winners, which remains the lowest winning total ever (outside of the war years).
Bruce's 13 wins did include, however, a great victory in the City & Suburban on Eastern Nip.
Bruce's 13 wins did include, however, a great victory in the City & Suburban on Eastern Nip.
He had one winner from 12 rides over hurdles in the 1964/65 season, that being on Grey Charger at Southwell on December 12, 1964.
He had one winner from 12 rides over hurdles in the 1964/65 season, that being on Grey Charger at Southwell on December 12, 1964.
From being second jockey to Jack Clayton, he moved up to become stable jockey to Humphrey Cottrill, a position he held for five years before transferring to Michael Jarvis' stable in 1970. He rode for Jarvis until August 1985 when he left Britain to take up a three-year contract in Hong Kong. While there, Bruce had his licence suspended until May 1986 following a wide-ranging inquiry into corruption.
From being second jockey to Jack Clayton, he moved up to become stable jockey to Humphrey Cottrill, a position he held for five years before transferring to Michael Jarvis' stable in 1970. He rode for Jarvis until August 1985 when he left Britain to take up a three-year contract in Hong Kong. While there, Bruce had his licence suspended until May 1986 following a wide-ranging inquiry into corruption.
His first British Group 1 win came on board Easter Sun in the 1982 Coronation Cup.
His first British Group 1 win came on board Easter Sun in the 1982 Coronation Cup.
His earliest big race win was on Rainstorm in the 1962 Newbury Autumn Cup. Bruce also won two Northumberland Plates (Grey God and Totowah), July Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes (Forlorn River), Ayr Gld Cup (Jon George) and Vernon's Sprint (Runnett).
His earliest big race win was on Rainstorm in the 1962 Newbury Autumn Cup. Bruce also won two Northumberland Plates (Grey God and Totowah), July Cup and Nunthorpe Stakes (Forlorn River), Ayr Gld Cup (Jon George) and Vernon's Sprint (Runnett).
Bruce's best season numerically came in 1982 with 74 winners.
Bruce's best season numerically came in 1982 with 74 winners.
He once said "For a jockey, racing is a constant fight. You are never able to sit on your laurels because there is always someone chasing your rides. A trainer is always going to give his best horses to the best jockeys." Raymond's riding career continued into his 50s, and in 1993 he rode his best Derby at Epsom to finish second aboard Blue Judge, a rank outsider owned by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the former Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
He once said "For a jockey, racing is a constant fight. You are never able to sit on your laurels because there is always someone chasing your rides. A trainer is always going to give his best horses to the best jockeys." Raymond's riding career continued into his 50s, and in 1993 he rode his best Derby at Epsom to finish second aboard Blue Judge, a rank outsider owned by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the former Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
His riding career came to a dramatic end on Sunday, August 21, 1994 when, riding in Germany, he broke his neck in a race fall. Aged 51, Bruce, riding Moving Shoulder in a valuable six-furlong event in Hanover, was unseated when leaving the stalls. He was detained at the Hanover University Medical Centre.
His riding career came to a dramatic end on Sunday, August 21, 1994 when, riding in Germany, he broke his neck in a race fall. Aged 51, Bruce, riding Moving Shoulder in a valuable six-furlong event in Hanover, was unseated when leaving the stalls. He was detained at the Hanover University Medical Centre.
Bruce said 'The horse reared and I banged my head against the roof of the stalls, then fell off backwards, landing hard on my back. It will keep me out until the end of the season.'
Bruce said 'The horse reared and I banged my head against the roof of the stalls, then fell off backwards, landing hard on my back. It will keep me out until the end of the season.'
His son Martin said 'He will have to wear a head brace for 12 weeks so will miss the rest of the season. It's a shame because he was going well with 40 winners this year. There's no chance of him retiring - he'll be back.'
His son Martin said 'He will have to wear a head brace for 12 weeks so will miss the rest of the season. It's a shame because he was going well with 40 winners this year. There's no chance of him retiring - he'll be back.'
In December that year, after 36 years as a jockey, Bruce Raymond announced his retirement. He became the assistant to another former jockey, Joe Mercer, who was the racing manager at Sheikh Maktoum's Gainsborough stud.
In December that year, after 36 years as a jockey, Bruce Raymond announced his retirement. He became the assistant to another former jockey, Joe Mercer, who was the racing manager at Sheikh Maktoum's Gainsborough stud.
Bruce was the father of two boys, Richard and Martin. His wife, Gillian, died in 1993.
Bruce was the father of two boys, Richard and Martin. His wife, Gillian, died in 1993.
Bruce's father had served his apprenticeship with Fred Darling at Beckhampton but had left racing before the war and was working in an aircraft factory in Hatfield when Bruce was born. His father took young Bruce racing one day at Brighton and he was hooked on racing from that moment.
Bruce's father had served his apprenticeship with Fred Darling at Beckhampton but had left racing before the war and was working in an aircraft factory in Hatfield when Bruce was born. His father took young Bruce racing one day at Brighton and he was hooked on racing from that moment.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1965: Britannia Stakes – Sheridan
1965: Britannia Stakes – Sheridan
1966: Carlisle Bell – Aberdeen
1966: Carlisle Bell – Aberdeen
1966: Horris Hill Stakes – Alcan
1966: Horris Hill Stakes – Alcan
1967: July Cup – Forlorn River
1967: July Cup – Forlorn River
1967: Nunthorpe Stakes – Forlorn River
1967: Nunthorpe Stakes – Forlorn River
1972: Cumberland Plate – King’s Fancy
1972: Cumberland Plate – King’s Fancy
1973: Queen Mary Stakes – Bitty Girl
1973: Queen Mary Stakes – Bitty Girl
1973: Molecomb Stakes – Bitty Girl
1973: Molecomb Stakes – Bitty Girl
1975: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Cumbernauld
1975: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Cumbernauld
1975: Northumberland Plate – Grey God
1975: Northumberland Plate – Grey God
1975: Mill Reef Stakes – Royal Boy
1975: Mill Reef Stakes – Royal Boy
1976: St Simon Stakes – Mart Lane
1976: St Simon Stakes – Mart Lane
1977: Ayr Gold Cup – Jon George
1977: Ayr Gold Cup – Jon George
1979: Wokingham Stakes – Lord Rochford
1979: Wokingham Stakes – Lord Rochford
1979: Northumberland Plate – Totowah
1979: Northumberland Plate – Totowah
1981: Haydock Sprint Cup – Runnett
1981: Haydock Sprint Cup – Runnett
1981: Mill Reef Stakes – Hays
1981: Mill Reef Stakes – Hays
1981: Cornwallis Stakes – My Lover
1981: Cornwallis Stakes – My Lover
1982: Diomed Stakes – Prima Voce
1982: Diomed Stakes – Prima Voce
1982: Coronation Cup – Easter Sun
1982: Coronation Cup – Easter Sun
1982: Ribblesdale Stakes – Dish Dash
1982: Ribblesdale Stakes – Dish Dash
1982: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Ore
1982: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Ore
1982: Cumberland Plate – Ambience
1982: Cumberland Plate – Ambience
1983: Queen Mary Stakes – Night of Wind
1983: Queen Mary Stakes – Night of Wind
1984: Victoria Cup – Mummy’s Special
1984: Victoria Cup – Mummy’s Special
1984: Wokingham Stakes – Petong
1984: Wokingham Stakes – Petong
1984: Stewards Cup – Petong
1984: Stewards Cup – Petong
1984: Haydock Sprint Cup – Petong
1984: Haydock Sprint Cup – Petong
1984: Rockfel Stakes – Kashi Lagoon
1984: Rockfel Stakes – Kashi Lagoon
1985: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Bob Back
1985: Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Bob Back
1985: Norfolk Stakes – Colmore Row
1985: Norfolk Stakes – Colmore Row
1985: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Storm Star
1985: Cherry Hinton Stakes – Storm Star
1987: Norfolk Stakes – Colmore Row
1987: Norfolk Stakes – Colmore Row
1988: Chesham Stakes – Jacamar
1988: Chesham Stakes – Jacamar
1989: Queen’s Vase – Weld
1989: Queen’s Vase – Weld
1989: Cumberland Plate – Cheerful Times
1989: Cumberland Plate – Cheerful Times
1989: Richmond Stakes – Contract Law
1989: Richmond Stakes – Contract Law
1989: Jockey Club Cup – Weld
1989: Jockey Club Cup – Weld
1989: November Handicap – Firelight Fiesta
1989: November Handicap – Firelight Fiesta
1990: Criterion Stakes – Rock City
1990: Criterion Stakes – Rock City
1990: Beeswing Stakes – Savahra Sound
1990: Beeswing Stakes – Savahra Sound
1990: Carlisle Bell – Causley
1990: Carlisle Bell – Causley
1990: Stewards Cup – Knight of Mercy
1990: Stewards Cup – Knight of Mercy
1990: Lowther Stakes – Only Yours
1990: Lowther Stakes – Only Yours
1990: St Simon Stakes – Down the Flag
1990: St Simon Stakes – Down the Flag
1991: Ormonde Stakes – Per Quod
1991: Ormonde Stakes – Per Quod
1991: Dee Stakes – Hundra
1991: Dee Stakes – Hundra
1991: Britannia Stakes – Ajaad
1991: Britannia Stakes – Ajaad
1991: July Stakes- Showbrook
1991: July Stakes- Showbrook
1991: Gimcrack Stakes – River Falls
1991: Gimcrack Stakes – River Falls
1992: Haydock Sprint Cup – Sheikh Albadou
1992: Haydock Sprint Cup – Sheikh Albadou
In Ireland
In Ireland
1991: Moyglare Stud Stakes – Twafeaj
1991: Moyglare Stud Stakes – Twafeaj
In Italy
In Italy
1984: Premio Parioli – Southern Arrow
1984: Premio Parioli – Southern Arrow
1985: Premio Presidente della Republica – Bob Back
1985: Premio Presidente della Republica – Bob Back
In Norway
In Norway
1973: Norwegian Derby - Starry Ho
1973: Norwegian Derby - Starry Ho