A lawyer by training with a true love of the thoroughbred at heart, this year's President's Award honors a man who, for over 50 years, has been a respected adviser, a passionate promoter and an indefatigable advocate for our industry - Mr Ken Barry.
For more than five decades Ken has promoted and championed the Hunter's thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Since the late 1970's, as an adviser to the then world's largest racehorse owner, late Robert Sangster (proprietor of Swettenham Stud and partner in Coolmore Stud), Ken has been influential in the development of the Hunter's thoroughbred breeding industry.
This included the establishment of
Robert Sangster's and Colin Hayes' breeding and racing interests in Australia in what was to become Collingrove Stud and its very successful stallion Rory's Jester who is still a major influence for speed
in the Australian thoroughbred.
It was Ken's relationship with Robert Sangster that ignited his involvement with Coolmore, which he retains to this day in his role as Chairman of Coolmore's Advisory Board, a role he has held since
Coolmore's establishment in Australia.
Significantly, it was his involvement with the late Robert Sangster that led to Ken's considerable and lasting contributions to the Hunter's Thoroughbred Breeding Industry, including his role in the "shuttle stallion" phenomenon that gave us Last Tycoon
and Danehill and shaped the Australian and particularly the Hunter thoroughbred.
Together with Arrowfield's Chairman, John Messara, Ken has served on the Board of what was then the Commercial Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and which today has become Aushorse Ltd, Australia's national thoroughbred marketing body.
Since the formation of Aushorse, Ken has been the Aushorse representative on the Board of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and has been instrumental in promoting and advocating for the growth, export potential and preservation of Australia's premier thoroughbred breeding industry in the Hunter.
As a tireless advocate for our industry, Ken has championed the cause to prevent open cut mining at the Drayton South site culminating in the prohibition of open cut mining on that site by the NSW Government in December last year.
As chairman of Coolmore's Advisory Board, Ken and his management team have had many successes – standing Australian Champion Stallions on 12 occasions, producing 54 Group 1 winners and over 510 stakes winners - since their formation in Australia.
On a personal level, Ken has also had considerable success in racing and breeding, owning Champion Stallion Encosta De Lago (in partnership with John Magnier), and having co-bred, raced and remains a significant shareholder in
Fastnet Rock.
Ken also retains an interest in yet another Royal Ascot runner, Fastnet Rock's son
Merchant Navy, who will race at Ascot this coming June.
A quiet achiever, an inspirational leader, a great mentor, and a man of commitment, compassion and vision, a persuasive advocate, a true gentleman and a devoted family man it is our honour to award Ken Barry the 2018 HTBA President's award for his dedication, passion and life time commitment to the Hunter's Thoroughbred Breeding Industry and the many causes he has championed on our behalf.
HTBA AWARDS
