Barry Keniry
Jump jockey Finbar (Barry) Keniry was born on April 6, 1979, the elder brother of Flat jockey Liam Keniry. Barry rode his first winner on the Flat aboard a horse named Marlonette, trained by Willie Mullins, in a Gowran Park apprentices’ race on August 10, 1996.
Jump jockey Finbar (Barry) Keniry was born on April 6, 1979, the elder brother of Flat jockey Liam Keniry. Barry rode his first winner on the Flat aboard a horse named Marlonette, trained by Willie Mullins, in a Gowran Park apprentices’ race on August 10, 1996.
He came to Britain and spent six years riding for Toby Balding, notching his first British win on Taufan Bay in a conditional jockey’s novices’ hurdle at Ascot on November 20, 1998. Later that season he rode Taufan Bay to victory in the Arkells 38 Bitter Handicap Hurdle at Newbury in March 1999.
He came to Britain and spent six years riding for Toby Balding, notching his first British win on Taufan Bay in a conditional jockey’s novices’ hurdle at Ascot on November 20, 1998. Later that season he rode Taufan Bay to victory in the Arkells 38 Bitter Handicap Hurdle at Newbury in March 1999.
Among the best horses he rode was Emma Lavelle’s good hurdler Self Defense, on which he won a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham and finished fourth behind Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle. However, he gained his biggest success on the Francois Doumen-trained Kasbah Bliss in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on February 16, 2008.
Among the best horses he rode was Emma Lavelle’s good hurdler Self Defense, on which he won a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham and finished fourth behind Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle. However, he gained his biggest success on the Francois Doumen-trained Kasbah Bliss in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock on February 16, 2008.
Barry was based in the north for the latter part of his career and rode for George Moore, who provided him with a significant proportion of his winners. Among the stable stalwarts was handicap chaser Jungle Jinks. Barry only won three times on him but he rode him in 24 races over a period of four years.
Barry was based in the north for the latter part of his career and rode for George Moore, who provided him with a significant proportion of his winners. Among the stable stalwarts was handicap chaser Jungle Jinks. Barry only won three times on him but he rode him in 24 races over a period of four years.
He rode what turned out to be his last winner on Wolf Shield, trained by George Moore, in a Southwell novices’ chase on July 13, 2014. By then, Barry was becoming ever busier with pre-training horses and breaking in yearlings at his Richmond yard. Hence, he found it harder to find time to go racing and leave his work behind. He announced his imminent retirement in January 2015, aged 35, to concentrate on his main business.
He rode what turned out to be his last winner on Wolf Shield, trained by George Moore, in a Southwell novices’ chase on July 13, 2014. By then, Barry was becoming ever busier with pre-training horses and breaking in yearlings at his Richmond yard. Hence, he found it harder to find time to go racing and leave his work behind. He announced his imminent retirement in January 2015, aged 35, to concentrate on his main business.
He had his final ride on Wolf Shield in a handicap chase at Sedgefield on January 25, 2015. Sadly, there was no fairytale ending as Barry pulled his mount up. That brought to an end a 19-year career that had yielded 280 winners. He rode a winner on every British jumps course bar Ffos Las.
He had his final ride on Wolf Shield in a handicap chase at Sedgefield on January 25, 2015. Sadly, there was no fairytale ending as Barry pulled his mount up. That brought to an end a 19-year career that had yielded 280 winners. He rode a winner on every British jumps course bar Ffos Las.
It wasn’t quite the end of his race-riding career, however, as he was one of the former jockeys who took part in the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Leger Legends race at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. He achieved his best placing when finishing fifth on the Mick Easterby-trained Kannapolis on September 11, 2019.
It wasn’t quite the end of his race-riding career, however, as he was one of the former jockeys who took part in the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Leger Legends race at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. He achieved his best placing when finishing fifth on the Mick Easterby-trained Kannapolis on September 11, 2019.
His wife, Steph Keniry began training in 2018 and Barry is now heavily involved with that operation which trades under the banner Barry Keniry Racing, based at Warwick Lodge, Middleham, a yard formerly owned by George Moore who sent out over 930 winners from there.
His wife, Steph Keniry began training in 2018 and Barry is now heavily involved with that operation which trades under the banner Barry Keniry Racing, based at Warwick Lodge, Middleham, a yard formerly owned by George Moore who sent out over 930 winners from there.