Horse & Hound

Brigadier Gerard

DEFEAT is a dirty word in racing. It leaves a permanent stain, no matter how dominant any horse may have been throughout its distinguished career. When it comes to the “best of all time” debate, far better to retire unbeaten in the manner of Frankel.

Frankel has been described by turfistes with elephantine memories as the best they have seen. However, his 14 victories were all gained over a narrow range of distances - between seven and 10½ furlongs. His versatility was never properly tested.

For three seasons from 1970, Brigadier Gerard won 17 races over distances between five and 12 furlongs. In the book A Century of Champions by turf historians John Randall and Tony Morris, he was acclaimed as the horse of the 20th century in Britain.

“He didn’t beat the calibre of opponents Brigadier Gerard did”
JOCKEY JOE MERCER ABOUT FRANKEL

Brigadier Gerard even toyed with Mill Reef on their only racecourse encounter in 1971, yet his sole defeat is cited as evidence that on a solitary day within his

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