Tributes paid after former jockey Bruce Raymond dies aged 82

Tributes have been paid to the former jockey Bruce Raymond following his death from cancer, aged 82. Raymond, who was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, rode successfully for 36 years before he was forced into retirement by serious injury.

He recorded his first win on Arctic Bar at Birmingham in 1961 and the following year was crowned champion apprentice. He went on to become stable jockey to the late Michael Jarvis, a role he held for 15 years, a period in which he clinched his first Group 1 victory in the 1982 Coronation Cup on Easter Sun.

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Other big wins came in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes and Haydock Sprint Cup yet Raymond, who rode around 2,000 winners, was one of the leading riders of his era never to win a Classic. He finished second on the same filly, St Pauli Girl, in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks and was runner-up in the 1993 Derby on 150-1 chance Blue Judge.

He was forced into retirement in 1994, aged 51, when he broke his neck in an accident in Germany

Raymond found a second career as a racing manager, working as assistant to Joe Mercer for Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum’s Gainsborough Stud.

He subsequently became racing manager to Rabbah Bloodstock, looking after the interests of owner Saeed Suhail who enjoyed Derby success with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown at Epsom in 2022.

Among those to post tributes on X was trainer Ed Dunlop who said: “A true legend of a man. Such a huge influence to me and many. He will be greatly missed.”

Former top jump jockey Richard Pitman said: “Good jockey, good human too.”

TV broadcaster and commentator Mike Cattermole said: “Sorry to hear this. Aside from being a brilliant jockey, just a lovely man.”