George Barbee
1849 - 1939
George Joseph Barbee was born in Norwich on December 12, 1849. He was apprenticed to Tom Jennings Sr, for whom he exercised the 1865 English Triple Crown winner Gladiateur. He rode a few winners before heading to America in 1872, specifically to ride for John Chamberlain, beginning his stateside riding career at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. He won his first US race at Monmouth that year on a horse named King Henry at odds of 50-1
He won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico three times, including the first running of the race on Survivor by 10 lengths in 1873. He won it again on Shirley in 1876 and on Jacobus in 1883. He also won the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of today’s American Triple Crown, in 1874 on Saxon, plus consecutive renewals of the Travers Stakes aboard Attila (1874) and D’Artagnan (1875), along with the Jockey Club Handicap (twice), Jockey Club Stakes, Monmouth Oaks and Champagne Stakes..
Probably the best horse he rode was Tom Ochiltree, on whom he won the Saratoga, Monmouth, Centennial, Westchester and Baltimore Cups. Other significant horses he rode included Springbok, Duke Of Magenta, Eole and Uncas.
He retired in 1884, having ridden 136 winners in America, including 65 Stakes victories, from approximately 500 mounts. He became the private trainer for J. E. Kelly’s stable.
George Barbee died on October 30, 1939, aged 89, and was buried near Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. He was inducted into America’s National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1996.
