Prince Aly Khan (1911-1960) “Green, red sash, green cap”
British champion owner 1959. The eldest surviving son of Aga Khan III, Aly Khan was coached by Michael Beary, his father’s jockey, to become an accomplished amateur rider. At the end of WWII he purchased a half-share of his father’s racing interests, inheriting the other half in 1957. Popular with the public and endowed with immense charm, Aly Khan married in 1936 Hon Mrs Loel Guinness, née Joan Yarde-Butler, the eldest daughter of the 3rd Baron Churston.
Following their divorce, he married the American actress Rita Hayworth, a union that also ended in divorce. Karim, his elder son by his first marriage, was nominated by the Aga Khan to be his successor as the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims.
Deeply disappointed at being passed over, Aly Khan served as the Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations. He was the owner of the brilliant filly Petite Etoile who, in 1959, helped him to become the first owner to win more than £100,000 prize money during an English racing season. Aly Khan died as he lived – at speed – in a motoring accident near Paris on Friday, May 13th, 1960. He was mourned by all in racing, who shared his love of horses and admired his fearless tilts at the ring.
His Irish classics winners were:
Gerald Barnard ‘Toby’ Balding (1936-2014) “Brown, turquoise blue slevs & cap”
Elder son of trainer and international polo star Gerald Balding, Toby rode in point-to-points while assisting his father at Weyhill until the latter’s sudden death in 1957.
Granted a licence to continue the stable, Toby married Caroline ‘Caro’ Barclay in 1960, going on to produce a son Gerald Barclay and daughters Serena and Camilla.
Former point-to-pointer Highland Wedding flew the Weyhill flag in the later 1960s, three times successful in the Eider Chase and ultimately in the Grand National, when Toby and stable jockey Eddie Harty completed a notable double with Dozo in the Topham Trophy. Twenty years later Toby won a second Grand National with Little Polveir.
Other top-class winners through Toby’s sociable and humorous hands included Cool Ground, hurdlers I’m Happy – the first to lower Bula’s colours – Decent Fellow, Morley Street and Beech Road and the splendid sprinter Green Ruby.
Toby lost Caro – his wife and lifelong comrade-in-arms – after a lengthy illness in 2004. Shortly afterwards Toby handed the baton to his son-in-law Jonathan Geake. Thereafter the former chairman of the National Trainers’ Association turned his formidable energies to his other established businesses and racing politics.
Principal winners:
Sean Barker (1936-1998) Jockey
Apprenticed to Willie ‘Rasher’ Byrne, Sean Barker worked in a factory in England before joining the Tom Dreaper stable in 1960.
In a riding career that spanned the transition at Greenogue from Tom to Jim Dreaper, Barker was second jockey. His biggest win was on Lough Inagh in the 1975 Two Mile Champion Chase.
He was twice placed in the Grand National, second on Vulture in 1970 and dead-heating for third on Black Secret in 1972.
When he retired Sean Barker became head lad to Michael Kauntze at Bullstown, where he remained after the latter retired and the place became an equitation centre. Sean Barker died on July 6th, 1998, only weeks after riding in a charity race at Fairyhouse.
His son, Christy, married Caroline Hutchinson, the lady rider-turned-trainer.
Principal winners:
Who Was Who In Irish Racing, by Guy St John Williams and Francis P. Hyland, is published by Daletta Press. Priced at €100, copies can be purchased from Farrell & Nephew, 8 Main Street, Newbridge, Co Kildare. There is €7 post and packaging fee for telephone or internet orders. It is also on sale in Barker & Jones, Poplar Square, Naas.
Tel: 045 431708
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