Sandy Barclay ........r.i.p

Very sad.
No2 at Henry’s , and rode loads of good ones.

At the time - He was bigger news and potential as an Apprentice, than the likes of Dettori.

Walked into the job with Noel Murless - all went well for a while - and then ..... will forever remain a mystery - especially now that he has passed on.

One of the top jockeys in the 60s with the top job too at Noel Murless's yard. R.I.P. Sandy.

Sad news RIP

From The Free Library.



HE was the boy wonder who rocketed to stardom in a truly golden era for the sport of Kings.

And, though Sandy Barclay may not have an Ayr Gold Cup tucked into his big-race portfolio, there aren't many major Flat prizes that eluded his grasp during a glittering career in the saddle.

Crowned champion apprentice in 1966 as a 17-year-old while with Harry Whiteman at Cree Lodge, the Ayrshire lad was head- hunted for the post of stable jockey to legendary Sir Noel Murless the following season and it was a partnership that proved to be almost invincible over the next few campaigns.

Brushing aside retained Warren Place pilots Lester Piggott and George Moore, Barclay became the darling of the racing world when capturing one big race after another in 1968.

The year began with victory aboard Caergwrie in the 1000 Guineas and the season also yielded a massive Group 1 hat-trick for Jim Joel's Royal Palace in the Coronation Cup, Eclipse and King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes followed by a win for The Queen on Hopeful Venture in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud.

One of the few reverses Barclay suffered came when he had Derby glory snatched from under his nose as Piggott produced one of his famously powerful Epsom rides on Sir Ivor to touch off hapless Connaught by a length and a half.

A remarkable season ended with Barclay runner-up to Piggott in the jockeys' championship. But though his tally of 116 saw him 23 winners adrift of the `Long Fellow', it was still a magnificent haul from a youngster who had been relatively unheard of 12 months earlier.

Top team then with likes of Piggot and the unforgettable George Moore.

R.I.P.Sandy.

With owners like Jim Joel,Lord Howard de Walden, C A B St George, Carlo D’Alessio, Daniel Wildensrein, how could you fail.
My favourite racehorse ever, owned by H J Joel, trained by Noel Murless, and ridden by George Moore.

Royal Palace, of course.

RIP

Rothman...Brigust posted on here that Royal Palace had actually been given a lower rating than Excelebration by Timeform.

Ok but Royal Palace beat Taj Dewan in the Guineas, on three legs so probably slowed it down a tad.

Royal Palace was a great favourite of mine too Rothman and that rating difference with Excelebration was a joke.

Royal Palace was also a favourite of mine. I was at Sandown when he won the Eclipse , one of the greatest races I’ve ever seen.
Remember Barclay very well ;arrived on the scene like a shooting star and fizzled out soon afterwards . Can’t recall why he left Warren Place ; at the back of my mind wonder if it was a weight problem.

onlooker21 Feb 21 19:19Joined: 18 Feb 03 | Topic/replies: 35,365 | Blogger: onlooker's blog
At the time - He was bigger news and potential as an Apprentice, than the likes of Dettori.

Walked into the job with Noel Murless - all went well for a while - and then ..... will forever remain a mystery - especially now that he has passed on.



I know exactly the mystery as some on course books on here will. That's as much as I can say due to forum rules.

Pictures of George Moore on Royal Palace are like gold dust.
Only rode over here for a year or so, and was forced to return to Australia very suddenly.
Remember at the time, rumour had it that Piggot’s men had got to him as he replaced him,and was now winning everything.

I thought Moore left because the doping/fixing gang threatened his family if he didn't cooperate. First I've heard of Lester being involved .

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enGB760GB761&sxsrf=ALeKk03u3Jsqz5XrG0kdvcu2w-uMtY0DEQ%3A1613936312673&ei=uLYyYMvTKLqo1fAP2t6P8AM&q=1968+eclipse+stakes&oq=1968+eclipse&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIECCMQJzIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB46CggjELADEMkDECc6FAgAELADEIoDELcDENQDEOUCEIsDOhEIABCwAxCKAxC3AxDlAhCLAzoCCAA6BggAEAcQHjoHCAAQhwIQFDoCCC46BQgAEMkDOggIABAIEA0QHlCBGFi8TmCvWWgBcAJ4AIABkQGIAfEGkgEDOS4xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpesgBCrgBAsABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

The finish of the 1968 Eclipse

I notice not one old time on course bookie has paid tribute. I'll say no more..

*They know..

Only barely remember him , I remember him been brokenhearted as Sir Ivor grabbed him near the line, I don't think he ever fully recovered...RIP..

If people knew the truth there would be no RIP's. (nap)

Not one on course bookie...

You can't libel the dead stewarty. So either say something or shut up.
R.I.P Sandy.

Bad form stew.

One of the few reverses Barclay suffered came when he had Derby glory snatched from under his nose as Piggott produced one of his famously powerful Epsom rides on Sir Ivor to touch off hapless Connaught by a length and a half.

A remarkable season ended with Barclay runner-up to Piggott in the jockeys' championship. But though his tally of 116 saw him 23 winners adrift of the `Long Fellow', it was still a magnificent haul from a youngster who had been relatively unheard of 12 months earlier.

However, in October he lost his job with Murless after coming second in the Princess Royal Stakes on odds-on favourite Parmelia.

The trainer said in his biography: "Sandy Barclay appeared just not to have the mentality to make the grade. Perhaps I was a bit hard on him, but he was always turning up late for work and sometimes not coming at all. Then, when he rode a very bad race on Parmelia, I got bloody annoyed and sacked him."

But a lucrative deal was almost immediately secured in France where he was offered a huge annual retainer to ride for Chantilly trainer Francois Boutin.

In a two and half year stint across the Channel he rode more than 150 winners before he became disillusioned and returned to the UK. He suffered a badly broken leg in 1977.

A five-year spell in India saw him win several sub-continent Classics including the Indian Derby and he married Miranda shortly after coming back home in 1983. He finally called it quits in 1990 after a roller-coaster riding career that spanned 26 years.

RIP

Very interesting Andrew though i'd have liked to read what Murless went on to write.
Perhaps SB had too much success too young

Yep was at Sandown too in 1968 , backed Sir Ivor (3rd ) and Frankie's dad Lianfranco was second .

gianfranco

Posy

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9780002162968/Guvnor-Biography-Sir-Noel-Murless-0002162962/plp

I tend to agree, a bit like young footballers that attain celebrity status and trappings of success before they are fully grown these days.
He was certainly a decent jockey, that's without question and in an era of some decent ones.
Petulant ? Thought he was invincible ? Who knows and i'm not here to critique him.
One thing i will say is, i doubt he was involved in anything 'iffy' as has been intimated, but i can't be 100% sure of course.

R.I.P Sandy

I can't find a link to the 1970 Princess Royal Stakes, it would be interesting to see what exactly provoked Sir Noel's ire.

I haven't a clue what stewy is referring to, but came across this story about a big bet at Lanark racecourse, however there is no suggestion that anything dodgy went on.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12041117.nice-wee-day-at-the-lanark-races-but-by-crikey-the-horse-laugh-was-on-me/

I was at Ascot that day, but I have no memory of the Parmelia race. The only race I remember is Cawston's Pride running away from the field in the Cornwallis.

some woman asked about him on a forum,seemed
to think he had a drink/drugs problem.
RIP.

Cheers, ged. I wonder what the form comments said (if there were any).

George

I think the article is erroneous in places.

Scottish Sinbad never won the Coronation Cup as stated.

In 1964 Relko won it and Sandy Barclay didn't become a jockey unti 1965. He won it in 1968 on Royal Palace.

Scottish Sinbad ran in the Lanark Silver Bell in 1968, but was ridden by Geoff Oldroyd. Barclay was at Sandown that day. The horse had won its previous race, but it was a Brighton handicap, ridden by Ron Hutchinson.

Thanks Andrew, I did wonder about the date and whether it was a bit early for Barclay.

I'll have to get my fact checkers on the case before posting such articles in future!

Thanks for correcting the article, ged.

No worries George. I was curious simply because i haven't heard anything iffy about Sandy Barclay.

From 1967 (Wiki)

Derby also-ran Scottish Sinbad who won a handicap at the same Newcastle meeting where Wolver Hollow was victorious and Queen Anne Stakes runner up Arenaria who was in receipt of ten pounds.

Scottish Sinbad made the running but was closely tracked by Wolver Hollow under a motionless Edward Hide who sent his mount home inside the final furlong to win by a length and a half with Arenaria a further two lengths behind.

Well done GED.

Anyway, whatever stewy is referring to, his post would suggest it occurred in the 1970s.

Scottish Sinbad was owned by Sandy Struthers (is that the wire he's crossing?). He was ridden by Val Fatgoater in Royal Palace's Derby, Barclay rode Helluvafella. Both went off at 200/1.

George might be worth searching for it under a different name.

The event was established in 1946 and was originally called the Princess Royal Stakes. It was named after the Princess Royal at that time, Princess Mary. For a period it took place in September,[1] and it later moved to October.

The current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and the Princess Royal Stakes subsequently held Group 3 status.

The race was run at Newmarket in 2000, after being called off at Ascot due to a security alert.[2] It was switched to Ascot's late September fixture in 2004. It took place at Newmarket again in 2005, as its usual home was closed for redevelopment. It reverted to October in 2007.

The event was promoted to Group 2 level, transferred to Newmarket and renamed the Pride Stakes in 2008.[3] It was named after Pride, a recent winner of the Champion Stakes. From this point it was staged during the venue's Champions' Meeting in mid-October. The title "Princess Royal Stakes" was assigned to a different race at Ascot, an event previously called the Harvest Stakes. The Pride Stakes had a purse of £100,000 in 2010.[4]

Cheers posy, I've had a look under Harvest Stakes, but no joy either.

I fear any footage (if it ever existed) of the race has gone forever, and I can't even say that the race is now only in the memories of the people who were there on the day and are still alive, as ged has said he has no memory of the race and he was there on the day!

The race can actually be regarded as a significant racing historical document, because it would seem that whatever went wrong in the race for Parmelia, it effectively ended Barclay's career at the top level in Britain.

Val ****er was one I had completely forgotten about.

https://sites.google.com/site/allsoppfredjockey/****ter-val

Wste of time trying to post that name and link.

*** OWNER Sandy Struthers had a very good horse in the sixties called Mount Athos which was placed in the Derby. Was it trained by Nigel Angus as a two-year-old?

J Mackie, Kilmarnock Mount Athos was trained by John Dunlop when chasing home Sir Ivor and Connaught in the high-class 1968 Derby. He was trained at Cree Lodge by Harry Whiteman as a two-year-old and scored under Val ****ter at 10-1 on his debut at Ayr before following up at Newcastle. He lost his next two races and was transferred to Dunlop. Apart from his Epsom third, Mount Athos easily won the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket before flopping in the St Leger. He had started off in the Spring winning handicaps at Nottingham and Newcastle so perhaps he was feeling the effects of a long, arduous seaso

Mount Athos was the year-younger half-brother to Scottish Sinbad. The mare (Rosie Wings) also produced John Splendid, who won an Ayr Gold Cup.

RIP- 1970 Eclipse Stakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxuZzKFXeL8

Just been rereading Roger Mortimer's opinion of the 1968 Derby.

" That final furlong provided one of the most thrilling and spectacular Derby episodes within living memory and can never be forgotten by those who had the good luck to be there to see it".

" Entering the final furlong it really looked as if Connaught , a maiden, could not be beaten......."

" In a matter of seconds a turn of speed that had to be seen to be believed had swept him past Connaught who certainly did not falter in the closing stages of the struggle....."

Whilst SB only had a short time at Warren Place he was involved in at least two truly historic races.

Andrew many thanks for the link;have ordered a copy.

I was at Baldoyle when Nor made his debut , I think he got beat .

Posy

YW. I looked for the cheaper copy. On Amazon, one guy wanted 162 euros for a hardback.

Happy reading.

RIP

abebooks ..cost me £16 (inc postage)

stewarty b
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21 Feb 21 19:56Joined: 02 Aug 02 | Topic/replies: 27,576 | Blogger: stewarty b's blog
onlooker21 Feb 21 19:19Joined: 18 Feb 03 | Topic/replies: 35,365 | Blogger: onlooker's blog
At the time - He was bigger news and potential as an Apprentice, than the likes of Dettori.

Walked into the job with Noel Murless - all went well for a while - and then ..... will forever remain a mystery - especially now that he has passed on.



Does nobody wonder why Murless got shot of him? For a jockey who had so much talent it makes one wonder. And it will remain a mystery ......to most.

Well you may something I don't stewarty but I remember the period well and there was some surprise when a very young jockey got the biggest job in GB,though I agree he was seen as one of the better apprentices of the 60s. I think it's arguable that he wasn't quite good enough compared to Piggott and George Moore who were his immediate predecessors in the job. His relative lack of success over a long period in the north later in his career may bear that out.

*know something

ss it had nothing to do with his riding ability.

He spent several years riding in India before returning home in 1983, and scored his 518th and last British victory in 1988.



Why did nobody take up the services of this genius instead of moving to India? He definitely had the talent??

thought he got a good offer from France?

I notice Piggott never put up any tribute. He may have been hard of hearing but he knew what was going on..

A bit like jamie spencer getting the ballydoyle gig

Sandy was a damn sight better than Spencer.

Well so was frank

Spencer still gets rides....in the UK. He didn't have to go to India.. Every picture tells a story..

stewarty.....Did you know he went to France from here first?


Barclay's time at Warren Place was short-lived and at the end of the 1970 season he was replaced by Geoff Lewis. But a lucrative deal was almost immediately secured in France where he was offered a huge annual retainer to ride for Chantilly trainer Francois Boutin.

In a two and half year stint across the Channel he rode more than 150 winners before he became disillusioned and returned to the UK. He didn't cut much ice as a freelance and his career sunk to an all- time low when he suffered a badly broken leg in 1977.

A five-year spell in India saw him win several sub-continent Classics including the Indian Derby and he married Miranda shortly after coming back home in 1983. He finally called it quits in 1990 after a roller-coaster riding career that spanned 26 years.

You keep talking about India yet somehow fail to mention his 150 winners in France whilst on a lucrative retainer.

And why did he have to move to France sparrow? btw no RIP's from old school on course bookies here..

You keep talking about India


Can't think of another 'top class' jockey who had to move to India. Do you?

The answer to your question is in my above post and as for on course bookmakers I have no idea what you are talking about but maybe you recall the 60s better than myself.

I think you have some sort of grudge against this person but only you will know the answer to that one.

he came back to England again,then went to India,
it seems.Went there from choice,after getting
injured.Thats what I read.

sparrow
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I think you have some sort of grudge against this person but only you will know the answer to that one.



Grudge? If you knew the truth you wouldn't be backing him up. Like I said, no old time on course books paying their respect. Doesn't that strike you as strange?

Non gambling related but what I can say from several bookmakers....he was a ban un.

Well you obviously think you know something that I don't so there's not much point in my saying anymore then.

Well there is one thing...Murless said he wasn't dedicated and the final straw was when he got beat on an odds on chance in his biography. You sack a jockey for finishing second on an odds chance? I think not. Murless couldn't tell the truth.

At Newmarket, word soon spreads..

I've had a good look through the archives and found three posts referring to what stewy might be referring to, and two of them were made by stewy himself!

The other post is more revealing, though if accurate surely more would know about it?

It was hush hush GEORGE. Different days then.