Anthony Barrett

Anthony Barrett

Article by Alan Trout

Anthony Barrett enjoyed some success during the three years that he rode as an apprentice on the Flat, with four wins, all in 1914.

He was apprenticed to Patrick Hartigan, who trained at Ogbourne. His first ride in public, at Birmingham on June 10, 1913, was a controversial one. His mount, Rockley, finished third in the Tamworth Selling Plate, victory going to Sea Trip, ridden by Herbert Robbins. Both Anthony and Mr Hartigan, who trained Rockley for the theatrical impresario George Edwardes, were called before the Stewards to explain the filly’s running. Not being satisfied with the explanations given, they reported the case to the Stewards of the Jockey Club, who heard evidence that it was Anthony’s first ride and that Rockley had never run before, the latter fact not having been reported to the Birmingham Stewards. Why it was not reported is a mystery. The Jockey Club Stewards found that the explanations given by Rockley’s connections were acceptable.

Despite that unpromising start, Anthony was given further rides by Patrick Hartigan, although not on Rockley’s next run, which saw her win at Alexandra Park on September 13 when ridden by another Hartigan apprentice, Fred Cheshire, later to be killed in a fall over hurdles.

Anthony’s first win came at Folkestone on June 25, 1914 when The Pro landed the Maiden Selling Plate. A second victory followed in the Apprentices Plate at Windsor on September 18 when six-year-old Lesto defeated Himalaya, the mount of George Hulme, by a neck.

His third win was gained seven days later in another race for apprentices, this one at Newmarket, when Martinet, owned and trained by Patrick Hartigan, won the Visitors’ Plate, again by a neck. Martinet also gave Anthony his fourth and final victory in the Westmoreland Apprentice Plate at Liverpool on November 13, this time scoring by half a length.

Sadly, any hopes that Anthony might be on the verge of a breakthrough were soon dashed. He had his last ride on Lesto, who broke down and was pulled up in the five-runner City Bowl – a historic race still run today – for apprentices at Salisbury on May 20, 1915.

Patrick Hartigan died in 1921, his stables being taken over by his brother Martin (1888-1942) who married Patrick’s widow, a daughter of George Edwardes. By far Martin Hartigan’s most successful apprentice was 26-time champion jockey Gordon Richards.

Anthony Barrett’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. The Pro, Folkestone, June 25, 1914

2. Lesto, Windsor, September 18, 1914

3. Martinet, Newmarket, September 29, 1914

4. Martinet, Liverpool, November 13, 1914