A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH HORSERACING
Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and Nijinsky sit astride the Sport of Kings like equine gods, with achievements unmatched in modern history.
This is the true story of possibly the greatest of them all.
BRIGADIER GERARD AND ME is the remarkable story of possibly the greatest racehorse of them all. So why not join me, Laurie Williamson, his faithful groom, on this incredible journey through his horse racing career and beyond. His arrival at West Ilsley Stables as a yearling, an in-depth look at his racing career followed by his retirement to stud and much more. This book is a close-up view of this truly remarkable racehorse and the search for his rightful place in the pantheon of greatness.
The lane to West Ilsley Stables
Returning home from the gallops
On The summer gallops
In the box
The lane to West Ilsley Stables
RETURNING HOME FROM THE GALLOPS
ON THE SUMMER GALLOPS
IN THE BOX
Featuring
The Mayday Massacre
Joe Mercer on Brigadier Gerard dropped like a thunderbolt on the leading horses to turn the 2000 Guineas, boasted as the classic mile of the century, into a May-Day massacre of the favourites. That these superb rivals could be so ruthlessly exterminated seemed beyond belief, but it happened. And, beyond all doubt, victory went to the best horse. . . a long way the best.Tom Forrest
Sunday Express
The moment Joe appeared it was all over. Behind them the Brigadier, named after Conan Doyle’s second most favourite character, the brave but braggart French cavalryman, was poised to deliver a charge of which the Hussars would have been proud.
They finished together, but he was three lengths clear and going away, as decisive and brilliant a winner as has been seen.
John Lawrence
The Daily Telegraph
Mystery of the Knavesmire
Great racehorses are often blessed with great names and Brigadier Gerard is no exception. He was named after Brigadier Etienne Gerard, a dashing Hussar in the French Army during the Napoleonic wars, and was the invention of the famous author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
A more famous, some might say prophetic, invention of Conan Doyle was the fictional private detective Sherlock Holmes.
With no satisfactory explanation concerning Brigadier Gerard`s loss at York. Or Roberto’s unexplained massive improvement in form coming to light in the last 50 years, it is fitting, therefore, that we ask Sherlock Holmes to use his exceptional powers of observation and logical reasoning to review all of the evidence, interview the interested parties and then use his analytical skills in an attempt to provide an answer to one of horseracing’s greatest mysteries.
The Day The Ratings Died
Was June 19th 2012, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot the day the world witnessed the greatest racecourse performance in the history of ratings or was it the day the use of ‘ratings’ for top class races, finally died?
You decide as the private and official ‘ratings’ organisations have their figures scrutinised and put under the spotlight.
Who is the greatest racehorse
This challenging and contentious question has caused much debate among horseracing fans, up and down the country, for decades.
The list of great racehorses, including Tudor Minstrel, Ribot, Sea-Bird II, Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef, Nijinsky, Dancing Brave, Sea the Stars, Frankel and many others have their individual records put to the test to find out who is the Greatest Racehorse of all time.
In The Yard
In The Paddock
At The Racecourse
In The Winners ENCLOSURE
IN THE YARD
IN THE PADDOCK
AT THE RACECOURSE
IN THE WINNERS ENCLOSEURE
Ears proudly cocked, he seemed, as always, to love it all as Joe Mercer dismounted for the last time a call for three cheers went up – something I had never heard before on any racecourse. Then it was over. Mercer gave his old companion-in-arms a final pat as Laurie Williamson, who has looked after the Brigadier since he came to West Ilsley as a yearling, led him away through an honour guard of helmeted police.
No British flat race horse has ever given his public better value or served his grateful owners more faithfully. Heaven knows when we shall find another to take his place and the only thing left to say is “thank you”.
And Including............
Part One
Meeting the Brigadier
A holiday gift from Her Majesty
The Brigadier in chains
Lido di Jesolo
The girls who got away
50 years of 2000 Guineas
Full race by race preview
Mill Reef
Part Two
Thirty-six years laterHistorians
Is Frankel the greatest?
Timeform and Phil Bull.
Racehorses of 2012.
Dancing Brave v Frankel
The greatest racehorse?
Are we breeding mediocrity?
And much much more…….
Brigadier Gerard in his paddock
The author by Brigadier Gerard’s paddock
Brigadier Gerard’s grave
BRIGADIER GERARD IN HIS PADDOCK
THE AUTHOR BY BRIGADIER GERARD'S PADDOCK
BRIGADIER GERARD'S GRAVE
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