Sandy Alexander Macfarlane Barclay
Alexander Macafarlane Barclay
In the late 1960s, no one's potential matched that of Alexander Macfarlane Barclay's, who had future champion jockey written all over him.
Born on June 13, 1948, in Ayr, Scotland, he was on the backs of ponies at the age of three and, by eight, he was out riding to the hounds. His meteoric rise to fame began in the Cree Lodge racing stables of Harry Whiteman, Ayr.
He first rode in public April 3,1965 at Ayr (Indian Style); a month later he kicked home his first winner - Saronis, at Hamilton. In July that year he rode his first double, the owner of one of the horses, Secretive, being Charles Carlow, brother-in-law to Noel Murless.
Carlow immediately recognised Barclay's natural, outstanding talent, and recommended him to Murless. Barclay joined forces with Murless in 1966, his first ride for the stable coming at Goodwood in that July. He was champion apprentice that year with 71 winners, including the Manchester November Handicap on Polish Warrior; two years later he booted home 116 winners, his best ever total. This was also the season he rode his first classic winner - Caergwrle in the One Thousand Guineas.
1968 was another good year. Barclay, now riding as Murless's number one jockey, won the Eclipse, the Coronation Cup, the Prince of Wales' Stakes and the King
George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Royal Palace.
Then, for no apparent reason, everything changed.
At the end of the 1970 season, he was replaced by Geoff Lewis. This resulted in him going to France where, for the next couple of seasons, he rode for the Francis Boutin stable. The family lived at Apartment 4, Du Parc, Chaffour, 60, Chantilly, Oise.
He returned to Britain in 1973, riding for Sam Hall in the North. In 1976 he came first jockey to Denys Smith. The very next year he broke his knee in two which put him out of racing for six months.
Having recovered, he tried his luck in India, riding for John Ciechanowski who
was one of Sheikh Mohammed's trainers. Returning to Britain in 1983, he rode just six winners, his first successes in Britain since 1976.
In that year he also married Miranda. She gave him three children - Iona, Alexander and India.
He finally quit riding in 1990 after a 26-year career.
The family lived in a converted rectory at Blexhall in Suffolk. Its large grounds were also home to a variety of ponies, dogs, horses, cats and various other pets.
Barclay became involved with the language school for foreign students which Miranda organised.
His passion outside work is tennis, and his son Alex, too, is an excellent player. Sandy also enjoys foxhunting and shooting.
His father, James Barclay, was a leading amateur jockey. James died in 1991.
Sandy's height was 5 ft 3 ins.
Sandy's Classic winners:
1968: 1,000 Guineas - Caergwrle
1970: Lupe - The Oaks
Other big wins include:
1966: Portland Handicap - Audrey Joan
1966: Manchester November Handicap - Polish Warrior
1967: Manchester November Handicap - Bugle Boy
1968: Prince of Wales Stakes - Royal Palace
1968: King George Vl & Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Royal Palace
1968: Coronation Cup - Royal Palace
1968: Eclipse Stakes - Royal Palace
1968: Irish Oaks - Celina
1969: Lincoln Handicap - Foggy Bell
1970: Coronation Cup - Caliban
1970: Prince of Wales Stakes - Connaught
1971: Prince of Wales Stakes - Connaught
1970: Nunthorpe Stakes - Huntercombe
1970: Yorkshire Oaks - Lupe
1970: Cheveley Park Stakes - Magic Flute
1970: Victoria Cup - Welsh Pageant
1970: Lincoln Handicap - New Chapter
1970: Eclipse Stakes - Connaught
1970: July Cup - Huntercombe
1975: Ebor Handicap - Dakota
Greg Nickalos
