Gerry Brownell Passes

Adored by everyone on the backstretch, former jockey Gerry 'Brownie' Brownell passed away Monday, June 10, at Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster

Jun 12, 2024

Gerry ‘Brownie’ Brownell — photo Patti Tubbs

By Randy Goulding

Former jockey Gerry Brownell passed away Monday, June 10, at Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster. Brownie, as affectionately known by the backstretch community at Hastings Racecourse, rode in Ontario before moving to Vancouver in the late 1960s. After retiring in 1977 he became an exercise rider and worked in the jockey’s room as a valet.

Among the horses he exercised was the great Travelling Victor. Brownie and Victor would arrive at the gap about 15 minutes before the track reopened after the break.

“Victor had a hard time with other horses on the track so they would sit just inside the gate until the tractors got off,” says trainer Robbie Anderson. “He was always the first to go.”

“He was a hard horse to gallop,” Brownie once said. “It was a real workout.”

Anderson fondly recalled Brownie galloping Travelling Victor at Woodbine.

“You weren’t allowed to gallop on the turf and Brownie rode there so he knew the rules,” said Anderson. “The track crossed the turf course and Brownie just kept going on the turf because he wanted to see how Victor handled the grass since he was going to run on it. He got into trouble, but he didn’t care.”

Brownie eventually moved to the gap on a more permanent basis when he became part of the clocking crew as the horse identifier. Though not required, he could be found working in the jock’s room at three in the morning where he would do the laundry and generally put the room in good order.

Brownie worked at the gap and in the jocks room until he became too ill to continue this spring.

He was loved by everyone in the backstretch and will be missed.

Brownie, 77, is survived by his daughters Jackie and Julie Brownell.