Barrie Wright
Jump jockey Barrie Wright was born on February 27, 1955. He started his racing career as a conditional jockey in the mid-1970s, initially with Paul Felgate and then with Steve Holland, He subsequently moved to the south-west and rode for Saltash-based trainer Trevor Hallett.
Jump jockey Barrie Wright was born on February 27, 1955. He started his racing career as a conditional jockey in the mid-1970s, initially with Paul Felgate and then with Steve Holland, He subsequently moved to the south-west and rode for Saltash-based trainer Trevor Hallett.
The best horse he rode for Hallett was Butlers Pet, on whom he won twice in March 1983, including the March Hare Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, having previously finished second in the Listed Tote Placepot (4yo) Hurdle at Kempton. He won for a third time on Butlers Pet at Newton Abbot on May 10, 1985.
The best horse he rode for Hallett was Butlers Pet, on whom he won twice in March 1983, including the March Hare Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, having previously finished second in the Listed Tote Placepot (4yo) Hurdle at Kempton. He won for a third time on Butlers Pet at Newton Abbot on May 10, 1985.
During the second half of the 1980s, having lost his claim, Barrie’s seasonal scores steadily declined. He rode just three winners in the 1987/88 campaign. He won twice on three-mile chaser Bolt Hole during the early part of the 1988/89 season, landing the Pine Lodge Challenge Trophy at Newton Abbot on August 31 and the William Stansell Trophy at Taunton on September 29.
During the second half of the 1980s, having lost his claim, Barrie’s seasonal scores steadily declined. He rode just three winners in the 1987/88 campaign. He won twice on three-mile chaser Bolt Hole during the early part of the 1988/89 season, landing the Pine Lodge Challenge Trophy at Newton Abbot on August 31 and the William Stansell Trophy at Taunton on September 29.
He rode five winners in the 1990/91 season comprising a pair of early season Devon & Exeter selling hurdles on Rosoglio for Trevor Hallett, and three on Chris Wildman’s handicap hurdler Doc’s Coat, the last of them at Newton Abbot’s Easter meeting on April 14, 1990. His final ride that season came on Arcticflow, who finished third in a Newton Abbot hurdle race on May 16. Thereafter he had few opportunities and no more winners.
He rode five winners in the 1990/91 season comprising a pair of early season Devon & Exeter selling hurdles on Rosoglio for Trevor Hallett, and three on Chris Wildman’s handicap hurdler Doc’s Coat, the last of them at Newton Abbot’s Easter meeting on April 14, 1990. His final ride that season came on Arcticflow, who finished third in a Newton Abbot hurdle race on May 16. Thereafter he had few opportunities and no more winners.
Some years later, at a Court trial in February 2000, Barrie Wright made some serious admissions. He used to live with the son of Brian Brendan Wright (no relation), known as ‘The Milkman’ and allegedly the head of a cocaine smuggling ring. Barrie admitted passing on information gleaned from other jockeys to Wright “because he became a person who would pay me good presents when I gave him winning information.” He added that he received cash gifts from Brian Wright, saying “it was so fluid the way he done it. It was though it was natural.”
Some years later, at a Court trial in February 2000, Barrie Wright made some serious admissions. He used to live with the son of Brian Brendan Wright (no relation), known as ‘The Milkman’ and allegedly the head of a cocaine smuggling ring. Barrie admitted passing on information gleaned from other jockeys to Wright “because he became a person who would pay me good presents when I gave him winning information.” He added that he received cash gifts from Brian Wright, saying “it was so fluid the way he done it. It was though it was natural.”
In 2004, the British Horseracing Board found Barrie Wright guilty of passing on inside information in return for financial gain. He was given a 15-year ban, backdated to January 2003 and expiring on 1st January 2018.
In 2004, the British Horseracing Board found Barrie Wright guilty of passing on inside information in return for financial gain. He was given a 15-year ban, backdated to January 2003 and expiring on 1st January 2018.
Following a six-year operation codenamed Extend, 15 members of Brian Wright’s gang received jail sentences. Brian Wright himself escaped to Northern Cyprus, which had no extradition treaty with Britain. He was eventually tracked down in Turkey, returned to Britain and was jailed for life in 2007.
Following a six-year operation codenamed Extend, 15 members of Brian Wright’s gang received jail sentences. Brian Wright himself escaped to Northern Cyprus, which had no extradition treaty with Britain. He was eventually tracked down in Turkey, returned to Britain and was jailed for life in 2007.