Humphrey Barry

Humphrey Barry

Having ridden three winners in his native Ireland, Humphrey Barry had a brief spell riding in Britain in the mid-1970s and had three more from about 30 rides.

His first victory was at Leopardstown on February 3, 1973, when Vulgan Thistle landed the Monaloe Handicap Hurdle by five lengths. The five-year-old was trained by Pat Taaffe and owned by his wife. Before the season ended, Humphrey had won two more races on Vulgan Thistle: the Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle at that course in April and the Buttevant Novice Chase at Mallow in May.

The following year he crossed the Irish Sea and began working for former leading amateur rider Gay Kindersley at East Garston, near Newbury. He finished second on his first ride for him when Hit Parade was beaten 15 lengths by Linbury Lass in the Hennock Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on August 5, 1974. Later that season, Hit Parade would become the first ever winner trained by Martin Pipe, who had bought the horse out of a seller. 

Humphrey’s first success for Kindersley came at Newbury on December 28, when 33/1 longshot British Smelter, making his debut over jumps, ran on strongly to beat Flintstone by two lengths in the Panama Cigar Hurdle Series qualifier.

The result of that race came as a shock to the trainer and he viewed it with decidedly mixed feelings. With his stable jockey Bill Shoemark engaged elsewhere, he had given the ride to Humphrey with instructions not to push the novice in any way which might result in him becoming sour, as it was his first run. He did not expect him to finish anywhere other than in rear. One of the horse’s co-owners was in Paris at the time and had telephoned the other co-owner to put £10 each-way on the horse if there was any chance of him being placed. Kindersley advised him that it would be a complete waste of money, hence the bet was not placed. Although the starting price was 33/1, the Tote, on which the co-owner would have placed the bet, returned a massive 80/1; the winnings would have amounted to nearly £1,000.

Bill Shoemark took over in the saddle on British Smelter from thereon, and it was Easter Monday, March 31, 1975, before Humphrey recorded his second British success, when the eight-year-old Super Alloy, also trained by Kindersley and making his seasonal debut, proved too good for Precious Vale in the Raynham Selling Hurdle at Fakenham, winning by a length and as half. 

It appeared that Humphrey had ridden his third British winner when Silver Falcon was first past the post in the Madley Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1, Part 2) at Hereford on May 1, but the four-year-old was disqualified and placed second for hanging right after the final flight. 

Top jockeys Jeff King and Graham Thorner then won on Silver Falcon but Humphrey was reunited with him when the hat-trick was achieved in the Barsham Novices’ Hurdle at Fakenham on Whit Monday,  May 26, with the favourite, Crossover, finishing second, beaten by three lengths. 

That was as good as it got. His career as a jockey was pretty much over. He had one ride on the opening day of the 1975/65 season at Newton Abbot on August 2, when King Of The Blues was unplaced in the Widdecombe-in-the-Moor Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle, then quickly disappeared from the British racing scene. 

Humphrey Barry’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Vulgan Thistle, Leopardstown, February 3, 1973

2. Vulgan Thistle, Fairyhouse, April 24, 1973

3. Vulgan Thistle, Mallow, May 22, 1973

4. British Smelter, Newbury, December 28, 1974

5. Super Alloy, Fakenham, March 31, 1975

6. Silver Falcon, Fakenham, May 26, 1975

Thanks to Alan Trout for providing the majority of this article.