John Barrett

John Barrett

1881-1929

Article by Alan Trout

Born in 1881, John William Barrett rode under National Hunt rules for much of the first quarter of the 20th century and had 16 wins to his credit.

His first success was on January 3, 1901 at Colwall Park, where his mount Ellipse won the Bosbury Selling Hurdle by three lengths. He had to wait until the last day of the year for his second win, when Glen Royal beat Speculation II in the Old Year Handicap Chase at Keele Park. That summed up John’s career, the occasional winner with long gaps in between, and never more than four winners in a year. 

His last victory before war broke out was at Hambledon Hunt on May 7, 1914, when Climax won the Hampshire Handicap Hurdle by five lengths from Peasant Prince, the mount of Bertie Bullock. The other three runners all ran out. 

Five years and one world war elapsed before John had his final winner, but it was a notable triumph. At Cheltenham on November 11, 1919, he won the Gloucestershire Handicap Hurdle on Flurry, owned and trained by William Stratton. Newspaper reports seemed more interested in Gavrelle, partnered by Fred Davies, who had finished second after running out and then continuing in the race – he was subsequently disqualified for missing a hurdle. In winning, John had accomplished something that giants of the game such as Dick Rees and Ernie Piggott had been unable to do: to win a race on Flurry. 

John held a licence until the 1925/26 season. He then trained briefly under both codes before his death in November 1929. 

John Barrett’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Ellipse, Colwall Park, January 3, 1901

2. Glen Royal, Keele Park, December 31, 1901

3. Ras Makunnen, Birmingham, February 24, 1902

4. Ras Makunnen, Derby, March 10, 1902

5. Ras Makunnen, Derby, March 11, 1902

6. Ragamuffin, Maiden Erlegh, April 8, 1903

7. Catiline, Plumpton, December 22, 1904

8. Song Bird, Wye, September 26, 1910

9. Roman Candle, Hereford, April 8, 1912

10. Roman Candle, Cheltenham, May 15, 1912

11. Roman Candle, Worcester, May 17, 1912

12. Band Box, Plymouth, September 11, 1912

13. Climax, Birmingham, February 10, 1914

14. Roman Candle, Gatwick, March 4, 1914

15. Climax, Hambledon Hunt, May 7, 1914

16. Flurry, Cheltenham, November 11, 1919