Harry Barker

1862-1909

Arthur Henry Barker, always known as Harry, was born at Biggleswade on September 21, 1862, the son of solicitor Horace Barker. 

He scored his first success in around 1877 when Flat-race jockey to Peter Price at Newmarket. In 1879 he scored 31 victories, 31 seconds and 28 thirds. This, owing to his increasing weight, proved to be his best season. Thereafter he plied his trade mostly over jumps while continuing to take the occasional mount on the Flat.

On Friday 24 March 1893, Harry climbed into the saddle of Ǽsop, the 100-12 chance, to contest the Liverpool Grand National. The favourite at 9-2 was the mighty Cloister, set to give Harry’s mount no less than 31 pounds. The sun shone and the going rode fast as the field got away and Harry was in the lead as the runners touched down after jumping the first. Coming up to the second, the race was as good as over. Cloister swept into the lead to eventually win by a staggering forty lengths. Harry and Ǽsop came a gallant second.

Two months later, on Wednesday, May 31, Harry was back to try his luck at winning another big race, this time no less than the 113th running of the Epsom Derby. Riding the 25-1 shot Ravensbury, Harry quietly fancied his chances, but once again was thwarted by another superstar, the legendary Isinglass which, starting at 4-9, stormed home by 1½ lengths in front of Harry and Ravensbury. 

Returning to the unsaddling enclosure, a disappointed backer of Ravensbury called out to Harry: “I thought you had got the favourite beat at one time.” 

“I thought so, too,’ replied Harry, ‘but that dashed fellow can always pull out a bit more.”

Given that, earlier in the season, he had already finished second to Isinglass in the Two Thousand Guineas, this third visit to the runners-up spot after a big race was particularly galling. He had also finished third in both the Newmarket Stakes and Epsom Oaks.

The following year, on just his ninth ride of the season under Jockey Club rules, he recorded his sole success of the campaign when Ravensbury landed the 1894 Manchester November Handicap at 20-1, winning ‘cleverly’ by three-quarters of a length from Sam Loates on Gleamaway. Ravensbury was actually the stable’s second string, the Tommy Loates-ridden Kilsallaghan being the first, but Harry had always been of the opinion that Ravensbury had been previously run off its feet when entered in races that did not suit him and thought him certain to run well.

Back over jumps, Harry won the Liverpool Hurdle three times on Skyscraper (1887), Poussin (1893) and Crestfallen (1899).

Harry endured a personal tragedy on June 7, 1887 when his wife of two months was taken ill. The couple had just moved from Maisons-Lafitte to Nantes where Harry was to begin work as trainer to M Gaudin. Little notice was taken of his wife’s illness at first, but finally, a doctor was sent for. He discovered she was suffering from blood poisoning. There were no hopes for her recovery. Her condition gradually deteriorated, leading to her eventual death.

Two years later, in March 1889, at Newington Session House, Harry was sued for damages for breach of promise. Miss Ellen Constable, sister of the famous jockey the late Henry Constable, meet Harry at the Epsom Spring meeting in 1879 and, in September 1884, they were engaged. Though affectionate letters passed, he cut her off at Epsom on Derby Day and afterwards married an officer’s daughter. Harry did not appear in court. The jury assessed the damages at £1,000.

Harry later married Kathleen Curtis on May 16, 1894.

At various times he rode in France, Belgium, Austria and Hungary. Among the owners of jumpers for whom he rode in this country with success included Mr Abington and Baron de Tuyll. 

He went to ride in Germany 1895 but suffered two horrendous falls there, 1903 and 1904, the latter terminating his career. After retiring from the saddle that year he settled down in Totis (Hungary) as a public trainer.

Harry eventually moved to Austria and became a grocer. He died in Austria on Thursday, November 25, 1909, aged 47