Sculptor of horses and trophy maker, born in Surrey and educated at Milton Abbey, Dorset. Blacker entered racing in 1967 and worked at the stables of trainer Tim Forster, beginning to ride as an amateur, then as a professional, 1969–82. Among his 327 winners were the Whitbread Gold Cup and Daily Express Triumph Hurdle and he rode in nine Grand Nationals. Retired from racing to concentrate on sculpture, taken up as a hobby in 1974. His most famous commission was Red Rum, in the grounds of Aintree racecourse. Other important ones included Aldaniti, another Grand National winner, and two Derby winners, Blakeney and Murston. The Hamilton Trophy, Kelso; the Dermot Daly Memorial Trophy, Cheltenham; and John Hughes Memorial Trophy, Liverpool, were made by Blacker, whose work was cast by The Morris Singer Foundry.