Hugh Barclay (born 1950)

Hugh Barclay (born 1950)

Hugh Barclay was the son of James Barclay, an Ayrshire farmer and one of four brothers who rode winners, two as professionals, two (including James) as amateurs, in the 1940s and 1950s. James also trained, initially with a permit, then with a full licence from 1971 to 1979, based at Belstone Farm, Ayr. . 

Born on May 28, 1950, Hugh was a successful amateur rider on the northern courses in the 1970s, riding 28 winners over jumps and one on the Flat, subsequently becoming a well respected Jockey Club starter, a role he carried out for 41 years until retiring in 2021. 

He had his first success at Carlisle on October 4, 1971, when Hills Of Fife, owned and trained by his father, was a comfortable winner of the Rydal Water Selling Handicap Hurdle, beating Marieson by five lengths. The pair scored again at Perth in April 1972. He had his third victory on October 9 that year, this time on the popular veteran Vulmidas, also trained by James Barclay, the 15-year-old beating the seven-year-old Industrious Jack by two lengths at the end of the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Ayr.

Hugh steadily rode winners over the next few seasons, being used by top trainers such as Denys Smith, Arthur Stephenson and Harry Bell. His one win on the Flat came in the Redcar Amateur Riders’ Stakes on April 13, 1974 on the four-year-old Happy Jet, trained by Denys Smith, carrying 12st 1lb and beating top amateur Colin Platts on Go Bingo by three-quarters of a length.

Although Hugh rarely ventured south he did so to finish fourth on Skygazer in the Foxhunter Challenge Cup at Cheltenham on March 17, 1976. He also had a ride in the Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase that year, but his mount, Stairs, fell at the first fence. 

He recorded his only double at Cartmel in August 1976, and a few weeks later had his final win when Benvalla, having his third start over jumps, survived slipping up at the first bend and making a bad mistake two out to land the Caverton Maiden Hurdle by a head.  

Hugh had his last ride at Perth on May 16, 1979, when General Patterns finished sixth of 12 runners in the Caputh Handicap Hurdle. After quitting the saddle he worked as a freight clerk for KLM in Aberdeen, but it wasn’t long before he developed itchy feet and yearned for a return to racing. 

He applied for a post as a Jockey Club starter, got the job, moved to York, and in 1980 began a career that would last 41 years, finally retiring at Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase meeting on October 30, 2021.

Hugh Barclay’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Hills Of Fife. Carlisle, October 4, 1971

2. Hills Of Fife, Perth, April 18, 1972

3. Vulmidas, Ayr, October 9, 1972

4. Miss Craigie, Catterick Bridge, February 10, 1973

5. Scarba, Newcastle, April 4, 1973

6. Miss Craigie, Newcastle, May 5, 1973

7. Scarba, Ayr, May 14, 1973

8. Current Folly, Newcastle, May 19, 1973

9. Current Folly, Perth, May 23, 1973

10. Cabouche, Perth, September 27, 1973

11. Scarba, Kelso, October 20, 1973

12. Galadon, Newcastle, November 23, 1973

13. Miss Craigie, Ayr, February 1, 1974

14. Happy Jet, Redcar, April 13, 1974

15. Lucky Victory, Carlisle, April 15, 1974

16. Bold Lurcio, Ayr, May 13, 1974

17. Hard Bronze, Perth, May 22, 1974

18. Galadon, Cartmel, August 24, 1974

19. Fezeyot, Catterick Bridge, November 2, 1974

20. Tanora, Sedgefield, November 20, 1974

21. Skygazer, Perth, April 24, 1975

22. San Cathay, Sedgefield, May 29, 1975

23. Old Stephen, Ayr, January 30, 1976

24. Skygazer, Kelso, March 24, 1976

25. Don-Aire, Cartmel, May 29, 1976

26. Galadon, Cartmel, August 28, 1976

27. Fighting King, Cartmel, August 28, 1976

28. Belston, Kelso, October 16, 1976

29. Benvalla, Kelso, November 10, 1976

Thanks to Alan Trout for providing his list of winners and the nucleus of the story.