Fred Rimell
Thomas Frederic Rimell[1] (24 June 1913 – 12 July 1981), better known as Fred Rimell was a British champion National Hunt racing jockey and horse trainer. He was champion jockey three times and leading trainer five times. Rimell was the first jumping trainer to earn £1 million in prize money for his owners.
Rimell gained the title of “Mr Grand National”, having trained four winning horses of the steeplechase. They were ESB (1956), Nicolaus Silver (1961), Gay Trip (1970) and Rag Trade, who beat Red Rum in the 1976 Grand National[2]
After his death in July 1981,[2] his widow, Mercy (née Cockburn; born 27 June 1919, Budbrooke, Warwickshire – died 6 July 2017)[3] assumed the training licence at Kinnersley, Worcestershire and continued to train top class winners. She won the 1983 Champion Hurdle with Gaye Brief.[4][5] She retired in 1989 and died in 2017, aged 98.[3]
References
- ^ Fred Rimell obituary, ancestry.co.uk; accessed 7 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Racing mourns Rimell". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 August 1981. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ a b Melrose, Keith. "Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Mercy Rimell dies aged 98". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ Aintree launches vote for Grand National legends, bbc.co.uk; accessed 7 July 2017.
- ^ Will Aintree see the quality of Mercy again?, dailymail.co.uk; accessed 7 July 2017.