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Barry Sayles
Barry Sayles
Has there ever been a more extraordinary horse race than the one that took place at Hexham on Monday, September 4, 1972?
Has there ever been a more extraordinary horse race than the one that took place at Hexham on Monday, September 4, 1972?
Just two horses went to post for the four o’clock contest, the Loadman Novices’ Chase. They were Fearless Footsteps, the mount of 7lb claimer Barry Sayles, and Ann Rose, partnered by amateur rider Roland Smedley. Ann Rose had finished second, beaten a head, on her chasing debut at Market Rasen in June. Fearless Footsteps had fallen at the first on her debut over fences at Southwell seven days earlier.
Just two horses went to post for the four o’clock contest, the Loadman Novices’ Chase. They were Fearless Footsteps, the mount of 7lb claimer Barry Sayles, and Ann Rose, partnered by amateur rider Roland Smedley. Ann Rose had finished second, beaten a head, on her chasing debut at Market Rasen in June. Fearless Footsteps had fallen at the first on her debut over fences at Southwell seven days earlier.
The two bay mares set off a little more than a trot for the two-mile contest. All went relatively smoothly until the sixth fence where they both refused. Having both cleared the fence at the second attempt, the pair refused again at the seventh and, having negotiated that one on their second try, they both registered a veto once more at the eighth.
The two bay mares set off a little more than a trot for the two-mile contest. All went relatively smoothly until the sixth fence where they both refused. Having both cleared the fence at the second attempt, the pair refused again at the seventh and, having negotiated that one on their second try, they both registered a veto once more at the eighth.
Ann Rose got over the eighth at her second attempt but then dug her toes in a the ninth. Eventually cajoled over that one, she then refused and unseated her rider at the tenth. Three more attempts failed to persuade her to negotiate the fence and Mr Smedley gave up. Meanwhile, Barry Sayles made no less than 12 attempts at the eighth fence on Fearless Footsteps before finally admitting defeat and returning to the paddock. With neither of the runners completing the course, the race was declared void after a total of 22 refusals.
Ann Rose got over the eighth at her second attempt but then dug her toes in a the ninth. Eventually cajoled over that one, she then refused and unseated her rider at the tenth. Three more attempts failed to persuade her to negotiate the fence and Mr Smedley gave up. Meanwhile, Barry Sayles made no less than 12 attempts at the eighth fence on Fearless Footsteps before finally admitting defeat and returning to the paddock. With neither of the runners completing the course, the race was declared void after a total of 22 refusals.
Barry was a conditional jockey with Steve Norton, who trained at Silkstone Common, near Barnsley. He had ridden just one winner prior to that farcical Hexham novice chase, on Pugilist, the odds-on favourite, in division two of the Burgage Opportunity Novices’ Hurdle at Southwell on March 30, 1972.
Barry was a conditional jockey with Steve Norton, who trained at Silkstone Common, near Barnsley. He had ridden just one winner prior to that farcical Hexham novice chase, on Pugilist, the odds-on favourite, in division two of the Burgage Opportunity Novices’ Hurdle at Southwell on March 30, 1972.
He rode four more winners following the Fearless Footsteps fiasco. Two were in the 1973/74 season on Steve Nesbitt’s novice hurdlers Wee Game at Teesside Park and High Mark at Newcastle. The other two came courtesy of selling hurdler Crimson Carpet for Oswestry trainer Arthur Jones, at Hexham in October and Wolverhampton in November 1974.
He rode four more winners following the Fearless Footsteps fiasco. Two were in the 1973/74 season on Steve Nesbitt’s novice hurdlers Wee Game at Teesside Park and High Mark at Newcastle. The other two came courtesy of selling hurdler Crimson Carpet for Oswestry trainer Arthur Jones, at Hexham in October and Wolverhampton in November 1974.
The closest he came to riding another winner was when finishing second, beaten 15 lengths, on Pavardi in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle in April 1975. He held a licence for one more season but had few opportunities.
The closest he came to riding another winner was when finishing second, beaten 15 lengths, on Pavardi in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle in April 1975. He held a licence for one more season but had few opportunities.
Barry Sayles’ career may have only yielded five winners but he will forever be remembered among racing historians for his part in that infamous Hexham novice chase caper of September 1972.
Barry Sayles’ career may have only yielded five winners but he will forever be remembered among racing historians for his part in that infamous Hexham novice chase caper of September 1972.
Barry Sayles’ winners were, in chronological order:
Barry Sayles’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. Pugilist, Southwell, March 30, 1972
1. Pugilist, Southwell, March 30, 1972
2. Wee Game, Teesside Park (Stockton), October 29, 1973
2. Wee Game, Teesside Park (Stockton), October 29, 1973
3. High Mark, Newcastle, November 23, 1973
3. High Mark, Newcastle, November 23, 1973
4. Crimson Carpet, Hexham, October 17, 1974
4. Crimson Carpet, Hexham, October 17, 1974
5. Crimson Carpet, Wolverhampton, November 23, 1974
5. Crimson Carpet, Wolverhampton, November 23, 1974
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