In 1977 Blacker finished seventh on Happy Ranger to Red Rum, winning his third and final Grand National.
"That horse needed a rider that knew him and on that day he didn't", commented Blacker afterwards, describing the event as "one of the biggest regrets of my life".
[5] A former art student prior to his days as a jockey,[1] in 1987, he produced his first work: a life-size sculpture of Red Rum at Aintree Racecourse,[6] unveiled one year later by the Princess Royal.
[7] He has produced numerous works across the UK and abroad; including racecourse bronzes of Best Mate at Cheltenham, Generous at Epsom, Persian Punch at Newmarket, Desert Orchid at Kempton Park, Makybe Diva at Flemington in Melbourne, Northern Dancer at Woodbine in Canada and an 18-foot stallion in Saudi Arabia.
[1][6] In 2014 he sculpted a series of bronze friezes featuring a number houses in a Thompson's Gallery exhibit Farewell, Leicester Square commemoration of the centenary of the First World War, which he says were based on the poetry of the era.