‘He was racing’s Mr Nice Guy’ – Bruce Raymond dies, aged 82

Bruce Raymond, one of the greatest jockeys of his generation and more recently a renowned racing manager for some of the biggest owners in the sport, has died at the age of 82.

Raymond’s first big win came aboard Rainstorm in the 1962 Newbury Autumn Cup, and he also won the July Cup, the Nunthorpe, the Ayr Gold Cup and guided the unconsidered Blue Judge to a runner-up finish in the 1993 Derby. Three victories in the Haydock Sprint Cup came his way, including Sheikh Albadou in 1992.

While a Classic victory ultimately proved elusive, he enjoyed a fine partnership with Michael Jarvis, including winning the 1985 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot aboard Bob Back, with the pair beating Pebbles (Steve Cauthen) and Commanche Run (Lester Piggott).

On retiring from the saddle he was to become assistant to Joe Mercer as racing manager for Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum and his associates.

When Mercer retired, Raymond assumed the role of racing manager to Rabbah Bloodstock, with the likes of Saeed Suhail, Jaber Abdullah and Saeed Manana amongst the leading owners he represented.

Former jockey Philip Robinson became assistant to his great friend and colleague in 2018 and paid tribute to a man he described as a “second father” and “racing’s Mr Nice Guy”.

He told the PA news agency: “He’s going to leave a big, big hole in my heart and also in the heart of plenty of people in racing. He was racing’s Mr Nice Guy and I don’t know anyone with a bad word to say about him.

“He’s sort of been like a second father to me ever since my father died. He was close to my father and has been a very close friend of mine and a great work colleague.

“He was someone who could find something funny in even the worst things and he could cheer up the day no matter what the circumstances, he was a joy to work with.

“He was a people person and a joy to be around. He could make you smile, even on the saddest of occasions.”

Although the closest Raymond came to winning the Derby was when second aboard Jim Bolger’s aforementioned 150-1 outsider Blue Judge, he twice entered the hallowed Epsom winner’s enclosure as racing manager to Suhail, thanks to the exploits of Kris Kin in 2003 and more recently Desert Crown in 2022.

Suhail’s colours were also carried to Group One glory a day before Raymond’s death when the Andrew Balding-trained Never So Brave perhaps fittingly claimed the City of York Stakes.

“I was sad in a way because I knew he would have been so happy had he been OK to watch Never So Brave, it would have been massive for him,” continued Robinson.

“I was sad driving home from York thinking Bruce had probably missed this and I know exactly what he would have been like had he been watching.

“He had many great days in the job and I know how much enjoyment he got when Desert Crown won the Derby, that was a massive great lift for him.”