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Born in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Barry McHugh began his racing career by attending the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) apprentice academy, graduating in 1999.
Born in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, Barry McHugh began his racing career by attending the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) apprentice academy, graduating in 1999.
He came to England in 2000 and joined Musley Bank, Malton trainer Richard Fahey, having his first ride when finishing eighth of 13 runners on Angel Hill, trained by Fahey, in a five-furlong handicap at Newcastle on Easter Monday, 24 April 2000.
He came to England in 2000 and joined Musley Bank, Malton trainer Richard Fahey, having his first ride when finishing eighth of 13 runners on Angel Hill, trained by Fahey, in a five-furlong handicap at Newcastle on Easter Monday, 24 April 2000.
He struggled with his weight for a couple of seasons and changed status to ride as an amateur, as which he finally achieved his first success on Richtee, also trained by Fahey, in an amateur riders’ handicap at York on 16 June 2006.
He struggled with his weight for a couple of seasons and changed status to ride as an amateur, as which he finally achieved his first success on Richtee, also trained by Fahey, in an amateur riders’ handicap at York on 16 June 2006.
Having subsequently reverted to apprentice jockey status, his breakthrough came when winning the Sky Bet Dash at York on Knot In Wood in July 2009.
Having subsequently reverted to apprentice jockey status, his breakthrough came when winning the Sky Bet Dash at York on Knot In Wood in July 2009.
Two months later he came close to completing a unique treble of winning the gold, silver and bronze gold cups at Ayr. He won the Silver Cup on Kaldoun Kingdom and the Bronze Cup on Baldemar, then was beaten only a length when third on Knot In Wood in the Ayr Gold Cup.
Two months later he came close to completing a unique treble of winning the gold, silver and bronze gold cups at Ayr. He won the Silver Cup on Kaldoun Kingdom and the Bronze Cup on Baldemar, then was beaten only a length when third on Knot In Wood in the Ayr Gold Cup.
In May 2011, he fractured a bone at the top of his foot in a stalls accident on Thatcherite at Ripon, spending six weeks on the sidelines. He returned in July and promptly won Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup on Brae Hill. Despite having spent six weeks out of action, he ended the year with a half-century of wins, including a second Ayr Bronze Cup on Coolminx.
In May 2011, he fractured a bone at the top of his foot in a stalls accident on Thatcherite at Ripon, spending six weeks on the sidelines. He returned in July and promptly won Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup on Brae Hill. Despite having spent six weeks out of action, he ended the year with a half-century of wins, including a second Ayr Bronze Cup on Coolminx.
He achieved the first of what would be five victories at Listed level when Ladys First, trained by Richard Fahey, won the Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock Park on 11 August 2012.
He achieved the first of what would be five victories at Listed level when Ladys First, trained by Richard Fahey, won the Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes at Haydock Park on 11 August 2012.
He suffered another injury and also a concussion when unseated in the parade ring at Beverley in 2017. Once again, he bounced back by riding four winners in a week, including a double at Haydock, then won the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Bengali Boys.
He suffered another injury and also a concussion when unseated in the parade ring at Beverley in 2017. Once again, he bounced back by riding four winners in a week, including a double at Haydock, then won the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury on Bengali Boys.
On 18 January 2019 he rode his first winner in Ireland when Charming Kid, trained by his boss Richard Fahey, won a EUR15,500 handicap at Dundalk. On 7 September that year he registered the first treble of his career at Wolverhampton.
On 18 January 2019 he rode his first winner in Ireland when Charming Kid, trained by his boss Richard Fahey, won a EUR15,500 handicap at Dundalk. On 7 September that year he registered the first treble of his career at Wolverhampton.
Easily the best two-year-old he rode was Summer Sands, trained by Richard Fahey. In 2019 Barry rode him to finish fifth in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes and third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, then landed the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy. That was the first leg of a double for Barry who also won the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap later that afternoon on Olympic Conqueror for Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe.
Easily the best two-year-old he rode was Summer Sands, trained by Richard Fahey. In 2019 Barry rode him to finish fifth in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes and third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, then landed the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy. That was the first leg of a double for Barry who also won the Market Cross Jewellers Handicap later that afternoon on Olympic Conqueror for Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe.
He won three all-weather contests of the Fahey-trained Another Touch between November 2019 and January 2020, recording 47 wins in 2020.
He won three all-weather contests of the Fahey-trained Another Touch between November 2019 and January 2020, recording 47 wins in 2020.
The fastest horse he was associated with was Adrian Nicholls’ sprinter Tees Spirit, riding that horse to victory in the Epsom Dash in June 2022. Two months later he rode him to win the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary. In between those two successes he won the Corbett Sports Handicap at Chester on The New Marwan for Dr Marwan Koukash.
The fastest horse he was associated with was Adrian Nicholls’ sprinter Tees Spirit, riding that horse to victory in the Epsom Dash in June 2022. Two months later he rode him to win the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary. In between those two successes he won the Corbett Sports Handicap at Chester on The New Marwan for Dr Marwan Koukash.
Barry rode his last winner on Thormanby Pearl for Adrian Nicholls in a six-furlong class 5 handicap at Ripon on 22 July 2023. He had his final ride when finishing last of 14 on the Paul Midgley-trained Golden Rainbow in a class 6 handicap at Redcar on 19 September 2023.
Barry rode his last winner on Thormanby Pearl for Adrian Nicholls in a six-furlong class 5 handicap at Ripon on 22 July 2023. He had his final ride when finishing last of 14 on the Paul Midgley-trained Golden Rainbow in a class 6 handicap at Redcar on 19 September 2023.
In 2002, he secured a sponsorship deal with CRJ Services Ltd, showcasing their logo during the 2022-2023 season.
In 2002, he secured a sponsorship deal with CRJ Services Ltd, showcasing their logo during the 2022-2023 season.
Over his career, McHugh participated in 5,666 races, securing 488 wins and achieving 1,125 placings, reflecting a win rate of approximately 9% and a placing rate of 28%.
Over his career, McHugh participated in 5,666 races, securing 488 wins and achieving 1,125 placings, reflecting a win rate of approximately 9% and a placing rate of 28%.
Barry's greatest win came on August 23, 2018, when guiding the filly, Red Balloons, to a shock 33-1 victory in the £3000,000 Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York, Trained by Richard Fahey, Red Balloons won by three lengths from Alfie Solomons and Gallovie.
Barry's greatest win came on August 23, 2018, when guiding the filly, Red Balloons, to a shock 33-1 victory in the £3000,000 Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York, Trained by Richard Fahey, Red Balloons won by three lengths from Alfie Solomons and Gallovie.
After 20 months out and following a a hip replacement operation, Barry returned to the saddle, aged 42, in May 2025 and enjoyed his first winner on just his second ride back with success on My Harrison George in a class 6 handicap at Beverley on May 24, 2025.
After 20 months out and following a a hip replacement operation, Barry returned to the saddle, aged 42, in May 2025 and enjoyed his first winner on just his second ride back with success on My Harrison George in a class 6 handicap at Beverley on May 24, 2025.
For more insights and updates, you can visit Barry McHugh's official X (formerly Twitter) profile:
For more insights and updates, you can visit Barry McHugh's official X (formerly Twitter) profile:
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