Barry Haines
Barry Haines
Barry Haines
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
It is doubtful that there has ever been a worse race run at Stratford in post-war times than the Brailes Selling Hurdle on 18 May 1973. Worth a paltry £234 to the winner and restricted to four, five and six-year-olds, it was contested by just two runners, both of the humblest order.
It is doubtful that there has ever been a worse race run at Stratford in post-war times than the Brailes Selling Hurdle on 18 May 1973. Worth a paltry £234 to the winner and restricted to four, five and six-year-olds, it was contested by just two runners, both of the humblest order.
That Friday evening meeting had featured the S.K.F. Hurdle for Future Champions, won by the 2/1 joint favourite Do Justice, trained at Newmarket by Gavin Pritchard-Gordon and ridden David Nicholson. Half an hour later, the pair that lined up for the Brailes Selling Hurdle could hardly have been said to deserve the accolade of ‘future champions’.
That Friday evening meeting had featured the S.K.F. Hurdle for Future Champions, won by the 2/1 joint favourite Do Justice, trained at Newmarket by Gavin Pritchard-Gordon and ridden David Nicholson. Half an hour later, the pair that lined up for the Brailes Selling Hurdle could hardly have been said to deserve the accolade of ‘future champions’.
One of them, six-year-old Violinist, the 2/1 on favourite, had at least won a race, having landed a Devon & Exeter novice hurdle twelve months earlier when trained by the mighty Fulke Walwyn. However, the master of Saxon House had clearly recognised that the horse was of limited ability and had offloaded him at the sales. He was now trained by permit holder James (or Jim) Tierney at Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, and owned by his wife. Violinist was returning from a six-month break, having run seven times earlier in the season, placing no better than fourth (of five runners) in a Market Rasen selling hurdle.
One of them, six-year-old Violinist, the 2/1 on favourite, had at least won a race, having landed a Devon & Exeter novice hurdle twelve months earlier when trained by the mighty Fulke Walwyn. However, the master of Saxon House had clearly recognised that the horse was of limited ability and had offloaded him at the sales. He was now trained by permit holder James (or Jim) Tierney at Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, and owned by his wife. Violinist was returning from a six-month break, having run seven times earlier in the season, placing no better than fourth (of five runners) in a Market Rasen selling hurdle.
His sole opponent, Lord Bing, also six years old, had been bred by Frank Gilman, destined to achieve fame a decade later as the owner-trainer of 1982 Grand National winner Grittar. Lord Bing, alas, had no such pretentions and was the 13/8 outsider for that desperate Friday night Stratford match race. His jockey, Barry Haines, had ridden the six-year-old on his three previous starts that season but the performances were uninspiring to say the least: unseated rider at Hereford, tailed off at Ludlow, fell at Hereford.
His sole opponent, Lord Bing, also six years old, had been bred by Frank Gilman, destined to achieve fame a decade later as the owner-trainer of 1982 Grand National winner Grittar. Lord Bing, alas, had no such pretentions and was the 13/8 outsider for that desperate Friday night Stratford match race. His jockey, Barry Haines, had ridden the six-year-old on his three previous starts that season but the performances were uninspiring to say the least: unseated rider at Hereford, tailed off at Ludlow, fell at Hereford.
Neither of the jockeys had ever ridden a winner so one of them was guaranteed a red-letter day, assuming they got round. Providing they did, something had to win, no matter how unlikely. Eventually, one of them did. In a time 38 seconds slower than that taken by Do Justice to win the night’s feature race over the same trip, Lord Bing, despite jumping right throughout, made all, drew clear from the fifth flight and won comfortably by 30 lengths, his victory being aided by the fact that Violinist finished lame.
Neither of the jockeys had ever ridden a winner so one of them was guaranteed a red-letter day, assuming they got round. Providing they did, something had to win, no matter how unlikely. Eventually, one of them did. In a time 38 seconds slower than that taken by Do Justice to win the night’s feature race over the same trip, Lord Bing, despite jumping right throughout, made all, drew clear from the fifth flight and won comfortably by 30 lengths, his victory being aided by the fact that Violinist finished lame.
Surprisingly, given the woeful quality of the race, one optimistic gentleman made a successful bid of 500 guineas at the post-race auction and sent Lord Bing to Wilmer Mann, who trained at Bishops Itchington, near Leamington Spa. Predictably, it proved to be a poor investment. Lord Bing ran only twice the following season, pulling up at Devon & Exeter in August and trailing home a bad last of three finishers at Wye in May, then was not seen on a racecourse again.
Surprisingly, given the woeful quality of the race, one optimistic gentleman made a successful bid of 500 guineas at the post-race auction and sent Lord Bing to Wilmer Mann, who trained at Bishops Itchington, near Leamington Spa. Predictably, it proved to be a poor investment. Lord Bing ran only twice the following season, pulling up at Devon & Exeter in August and trailing home a bad last of three finishers at Wye in May, then was not seen on a racecourse again.
As for Violinist, he missed the whole of the next season and ran just once more, when eighth of nine finishers at Sedgefield in November 1974.
As for Violinist, he missed the whole of the next season and ran just once more, when eighth of nine finishers at Sedgefield in November 1974.
All in all, the Brailes Selling Hurdle was a thoroughly forgettable event, except, that is, for Barry Haines, for whom Lord Bing was the sole success of his career.
All in all, the Brailes Selling Hurdle was a thoroughly forgettable event, except, that is, for Barry Haines, for whom Lord Bing was the sole success of his career.
Working for Lord Bing’s trainer, Cowbridge, Glamorgan-based Denzil Jenkins, Barry rode over jumps for two seasons. He had had his first ride when finishing third of four on Betatron in the Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford on Saturday 26 August 1972. That meeting took place on going officially described as ‘hard’ and, as a consequence of the state of the ground, attracted a total of just 22 runners, one race being reduced to a walkover.
Working for Lord Bing’s trainer, Cowbridge, Glamorgan-based Denzil Jenkins, Barry rode over jumps for two seasons. He had had his first ride when finishing third of four on Betatron in the Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford on Saturday 26 August 1972. That meeting took place on going officially described as ‘hard’ and, as a consequence of the state of the ground, attracted a total of just 22 runners, one race being reduced to a walkover.
Barry persevered for one more season following his Stratford success, having his final ride on Copper Dancer at Hereford on Easter Monday, 15 April 1974, when finishing tailed off in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2).
Barry persevered for one more season following his Stratford success, having his final ride on Copper Dancer at Hereford on Easter Monday, 15 April 1974, when finishing tailed off in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2).
