Mercy Rimell
Racehorse trainer BORN JUNE 27, 1919 DIED JULY 6, 2017, AGED 98
IN 1983 Mercy Rimell became the first woman to train a Champion Hurdle winner, Gaye Brief. Mercy’s late husband was the legendary jumps trainer Fred Rimell who was both a champion jockey and trainer. The two also saddled the winners of four Grand Nationals: ESB, Nicolaus Silver, Gay Trip and Rag Trade.
Mercy in fact played a major role in her husband’s success and took on the training licence at Kinnersley after being widowed in 1981. She sent out Gaye Chance to win the 1984 Stayers’ Hurdle and Gala’s Image which won the Arkle in 1987.
Mercy Cockburn was born at Budbrooke, Warwickshire, and spent much of her childhood in the show-jumping ring.
She won her first point-to-point at the age of 14 and at 17 married three-time champion jump jockey Fred Rimell. From 1945 Fred enjoyed a hugely successful training career that bagged him a record four Grand Nationals, two Cheltenham Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles.
Behind the scenes, Mercy played a huge role, buying and selling horses, choosing jockeys and engaging in every element of the business.
After Fred’s death Mercy embarked on an eight-year solo career, the apex of which was Gaye Brief’s Champion Hurdle win. He also won the Templegate Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
She also had success with Gaye Brief’s brother Gaye Chance, which won the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial in 1982 and the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1984.
In her last season as a trainer she enjoyed good wins at Cheltenham with Deep Moment and at Haydock with Eton Rouge.
But her happiest moment came from a win for Three Counties, owned and ridden by granddaughter Katie, in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham. She retired from training in 1989.
Mercy died two days after a stroke.