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18 Feb 14
23:03
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Date Joined:
08 Mar 03
With the recent yankee and the 2010 coup about to be told in the book A Sure Thing,have any of you forumites came across the man at the races or elsewhere. What is he like ?
What WAS the story behind his on screen dig at McCririck "I saved your bacon"
What WAS the story behind his on screen dig at McCririck "I saved your bacon"
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Come to the Festival preview in Salthill and chat to the man himself. He'll have some explaining to do this year
mccririck was a failed bookie and i think barney gave him a a digout
Barney will have no explaining to do mr mischief,.. EXCEEPED you can read in in my book, it should be out next year.
McCririck couldn't pay out one day,Barney gave him the funds.
Met him at the Galway races about fourteen years ago,he was friendly with a famous Limerick hurler who was born in Offaly but should have played for Tipperary,he was reserved but almost permanently angry despite having landed a touch.
Met him at the Galway races about fourteen years ago,he was friendly with a famous Limerick hurler who was born in Offaly but should have played for Tipperary,he was reserved but almost permanently angry despite having landed a touch.
Giving a Little Back: An Autobiography Barney curley.....my daughter bought barneys book a good few years ago, i must dig it out and read it again wildman..i remenber it to be a good read.
Kalingalinga under the guidance of a youthful Jamie Spencer.
I can't understand how punters promote his ilk as heroes or the Punter's Pal and that certainly applies even more so to the Green and Gold.
I can't understand how punters promote his ilk as heroes or the Punter's Pal and that certainly applies even more so to the Green and Gold.
Frank , have a copy of that somewhere , signed to a schoolmate ( of his) . Stopped reading it when he gave someone we both know the wrong name . The racing game contains a very broad spectrum of personalities . Relative positions in that spectrum are a subjective matter .
Anyone remember Alan Sweetman's 'character assassination' in the RP a few years back!? 
Frank , i read that , its a smashing little read ..Barney has some very good points ...
i think the book came out about 12years ago WR ,my wife brought a load of books down to the oxigen shops a while back [barney book as well] i would have liked to read it again.
im watching the winter olympics and i swear i saw Barney doing a triple salchow in the Ice Skating 
I knew he would turn up eventually.
I knew he would turn up eventually.
GEORGE.B,
Is this the one you are talking about, from 2009?
That may have something to do with my experiences on a day at Galway in July 1999, when Magic Combination won the Smithwicks Handicap in the hands of Jamie Spencer. The in-running comment supplied by Irish Racing Services read "not extended, eased close home, hard held". In the post-race analysis I wrote "there will surely not be an easier winner of a handicap all season".
TRAINED early in his career by Kevin Prendergast, for whom he won four races, Magic Combination lost his way initially after going to Britain to join Barney Curley, but produced a revival in winning handicap hurdles at Kempton and Ascot early in 1999. In the meantime
he had dropped to 45 in the Flat ratings, a disparity that was ripe for perfectly legitimate exploitation.
I remember joining (in a modest fashion) the on-course gamble that saw Magic Combination returned the 15-8 favourite in a field of 15 in the most competitive market in the Irish betting year. From that perspective, I was happy with the result.
The post-race press conference conducted by Curley was the most bizarre that I have ever witnessed, one that was relocated to a crowded betting ring after the trainer had walked away from the No. 1 spot without a word. A few of us followed, and Curley eventually stopped to embark on a tirade against the Irish bookmaking fraternity ranged around us.
Magic Combination had been his third winner in Ireland from as many runners in a period of a few weeks.
He was entered for the big handicap hurdle on the final day of the Galway meeting. Curley now announced that he was taking his raiding party back to Britain in protest at the alleged refusal of Irish bookmakers to accommodate him.
Surrounded by a band of vocal hangers-on, he played to the gallery in inimitable
style. I recall a colleague asking a tentative question, suggesting that Irish bookmakers were nervous about taking his bets. His answer was a devastatingly withering look and a gesture of contempt.
It was an incident that disturbed me. I had always looked on Curley as something of a hero figure, the architect of the famous Yellow Sam coup, a colourful character whose raffle of Middleton Park had given us all a bit of a laugh in the depressing mid-1980s, a Robin Hood of the gambling world, an interesting, articulate and intelligent man.
Only this time, I saw a belligerent, hectoring figure, pushing an agenda while casting himself in the role of defender of the ordinary punter. It is an image that comes back to me every time I see one of his horses land a gamble.
Is this the one you are talking about, from 2009?
That may have something to do with my experiences on a day at Galway in July 1999, when Magic Combination won the Smithwicks Handicap in the hands of Jamie Spencer. The in-running comment supplied by Irish Racing Services read "not extended, eased close home, hard held". In the post-race analysis I wrote "there will surely not be an easier winner of a handicap all season".
TRAINED early in his career by Kevin Prendergast, for whom he won four races, Magic Combination lost his way initially after going to Britain to join Barney Curley, but produced a revival in winning handicap hurdles at Kempton and Ascot early in 1999. In the meantime
he had dropped to 45 in the Flat ratings, a disparity that was ripe for perfectly legitimate exploitation.
I remember joining (in a modest fashion) the on-course gamble that saw Magic Combination returned the 15-8 favourite in a field of 15 in the most competitive market in the Irish betting year. From that perspective, I was happy with the result.
The post-race press conference conducted by Curley was the most bizarre that I have ever witnessed, one that was relocated to a crowded betting ring after the trainer had walked away from the No. 1 spot without a word. A few of us followed, and Curley eventually stopped to embark on a tirade against the Irish bookmaking fraternity ranged around us.
Magic Combination had been his third winner in Ireland from as many runners in a period of a few weeks.
He was entered for the big handicap hurdle on the final day of the Galway meeting. Curley now announced that he was taking his raiding party back to Britain in protest at the alleged refusal of Irish bookmakers to accommodate him.
Surrounded by a band of vocal hangers-on, he played to the gallery in inimitable
style. I recall a colleague asking a tentative question, suggesting that Irish bookmakers were nervous about taking his bets. His answer was a devastatingly withering look and a gesture of contempt.
It was an incident that disturbed me. I had always looked on Curley as something of a hero figure, the architect of the famous Yellow Sam coup, a colourful character whose raffle of Middleton Park had given us all a bit of a laugh in the depressing mid-1980s, a Robin Hood of the gambling world, an interesting, articulate and intelligent man.
Only this time, I saw a belligerent, hectoring figure, pushing an agenda while casting himself in the role of defender of the ordinary punter. It is an image that comes back to me every time I see one of his horses land a gamble.
An interesting account , redbait . With some resonance .
Is it that difficult to buy a half decent horse, run it down for the field for 18 months and then let the handbrake off?
Thanks, redbait.
I must admit I thought there was more to it than that, and perhaps 'character assassination' was a bit strong, but still, Sweetman didn't have to write it, especially as it was what he thought privately / off the record, but fair play he had the balls to say it. Not something you can often say about a racing journalist imo.
I must admit I thought there was more to it than that, and perhaps 'character assassination' was a bit strong, but still, Sweetman didn't have to write it, especially as it was what he thought privately / off the record, but fair play he had the balls to say it. Not something you can often say about a racing journalist imo.
LEGENDARY gambler and former trainer Barney Curley has for the first time commented on January's four-horse betting coup that cost bookmakers in the region of £2 million.
Although Curley was widely believed to have been the mastermind behind the coup, before Monday night's admission that he found the chain of events "very satisfying" he had chosen to keep his own counsel on the matter.
However, speaking at a Cheltenham Festival preview evening in Galway - which helped raise money for Curley's Direct Aid For Africa charity - the 74-year-old appeared to confirm his involvement.
"It's over now, we've done it," said Curley. "It's very satisfying and hopefully it does some good."
Three of the four horses involved were trained by Des Donovan or John Butler, both of whom have previously worked alongside Curley.
The fourth was trained by Sophie Leech, although had previously been trained by Curley.
Although Curley was widely believed to have been the mastermind behind the coup, before Monday night's admission that he found the chain of events "very satisfying" he had chosen to keep his own counsel on the matter.
However, speaking at a Cheltenham Festival preview evening in Galway - which helped raise money for Curley's Direct Aid For Africa charity - the 74-year-old appeared to confirm his involvement.
"It's over now, we've done it," said Curley. "It's very satisfying and hopefully it does some good."
Three of the four horses involved were trained by Des Donovan or John Butler, both of whom have previously worked alongside Curley.
The fourth was trained by Sophie Leech, although had previously been trained by Curley.
"It's very satisfying and hopefully it does some good."
That comment from BC suggests that he may have donated some or all of the winnings from the coup to DAFA. Wouldn't surprise me.
That comment from BC suggests that he may have donated some or all of the winnings from the coup to DAFA. Wouldn't surprise me.
i was there.very good nite..sure paulie maybe he did give some of it.and if he didnt then thats his ight...dafa do good work.dont shoot the messenger.
What good does Dafa do?
Assuages the consciences of a few,suckers in some gullible young people that's all.
You can guarantee Curley kept the lot.
Assuages the consciences of a few,suckers in some gullible young people that's all.
You can guarantee Curley kept the lot.
well wat ever they do isnt it something...?better than nothing
BC has made some bookies miserable over the years and he has helped to make some young African kids happy. In both cases, I don't think any of us could quantify exactly the degree of impact involved. Only Barney can do that.
some people on here are sad..asking "what good does dafa do?" look up the web site.every single penny goes directly to africa.unlke other charitys. it does great work.
every single penny goes directly.....where have I heard that one before.....im not sure was it john o shea or bunny carr.....
When it comes to cost control (for DAFA) I'd say BC would put Michael O' Leary in the ha'penny place !
His horses are tailed off and an ordinary punter loses but that's ok.However when BC thought GB stopped Robin Goodfellow when it was carrying his cash it wasn't ok and his nasty streak came out.One rule for one and different for himself!
Every penny of every pound donated to DAFA is put where it’s needed most. Those who help administer the charity or are involved in facilitating any of its projects do so entirely at their own expense. DAFA works predominantly in Zambia through a range of projects focusing on healthcare, education, and self-help. ..some unfair judgements made here about Barney where Dafa is concerned, ..where his coup is concerned i have a different take.
Tolmi, any punter not au fait, at this stage, with "possibilities" for any of BC's horses shouldn't be punting. I wouldn't depict him as a saint but, as kavvie and frank point out, his Charity, which he set up, and how it is run, is a fine example of how all charities should be run.
I remember back in the day when he trained a stack of bumpers one winter. Nearly all of them won, well well backed and a Mr W P Mullins rode most of them.
I'm incommunicado and The Hacienderos two I remember.
Willie Mullins rode I'm Incommunicado to win in Naas as far as I can remember and The Hacienderos at Fairyhouse,landed two monster punts as well.
In fairness reb I was just making a general point about the inconsistency in his thinking but I suppose if punters were naive backing his horses then one could say that backing a short one ridden by GB was not one of Barney's brighest moves either!!I am not knocking his charitable work but I'd have to agree with silver in that I wouldn't be putting him on any pedestal as a punters friend.
I'm with wildman on the jockeys..I would be fairly sure that WPM rode those bumper horses.I remember being at Fairyhouse possibly on a Powers Gold Cup day when there was a monster plunge on one of his ...The Tariahs I think was his name...5s into 5/4 I think..funny thing is I can't remember if he won or not!!
Declan Murphy came on the scene when Barney moved to England and rode such plots as Chuck Curley the enigmatic Assultan and another decent one...think it was Keep Hope Alive.Mainly handicap hurdlers...didn't have many chasers I recall.
I'm with wildman on the jockeys..I would be fairly sure that WPM rode those bumper horses.I remember being at Fairyhouse possibly on a Powers Gold Cup day when there was a monster plunge on one of his ...The Tariahs I think was his name...5s into 5/4 I think..funny thing is I can't remember if he won or not!!
Declan Murphy came on the scene when Barney moved to England and rode such plots as Chuck Curley the enigmatic Assultan and another decent one...think it was Keep Hope Alive.Mainly handicap hurdlers...didn't have many chasers I recall.
the Sure Thing: The Greatest Coup in Horse Racing History
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
the Sure Thing: The Greatest Coup in Horse Racing History
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
the Sure Thing: The Greatest Coup in Horse Racing History
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
Now, for the first time, The Sure Thing reveals the complete story of the months of planning and preparation, ... ... Nick Townsend was, for many years, a sports feature writer on the Daily Mail ...
frankalsoran60
I've just finished reading that book,and I have to say I enjoyed it.OK the first half basically covers old ground but whatever you think of BC you have to acknowledge it was an amazing piece of work to get the money on as they did,and even more astonishing to get all the horses right for that one day . ( Even if Summersturm did let them down.
I've just finished reading that book,and I have to say I enjoyed it.OK the first half basically covers old ground but whatever you think of BC you have to acknowledge it was an amazing piece of work to get the money on as they did,and even more astonishing to get all the horses right for that one day . ( Even if Summersturm did let them down.
Barney may have been called a few names in his time Steve, but know one could ever call him Boreing, i know his share of the coup will go to his good cause,, The long term planing was in short Brilliant,, i look forward to reading the book. TY
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