Jim Barry to be laid to rest in Illinois hometown

James E. "Jim" Barry, a well-known horseman from Illinois who since 2008 had worked with Peninsula Farm in Kentucky, will be laid to rest in his hometown of Bradford, IL. Barry, 63, died on Friday, Oct. 5.

 

Mr. Barry became a harness racing enthusiast as a young man and started out working in the sport as a trainer in Chicago. He became friends with bloodstock salesman Phil Tully in the mid-1970s and with Tully's encouragement and the involvement of Dr. Ken Walker and his wife, Pat, he began the Standardbred Exchange yearling sale at Maywood Park.

 

In the early 1980s Mr. Barry joined forces with the late H.A. "Andy" Grant Jr. and founded Bradford Bloodstock, which they named because they both hailed from hometowns named Bradford (Grant's hometown was Bradford, PA). Mr. Barry worked with Grant in New York untilt he late 1980s, and during that time they also raced a few horses as partners and also owned broodmares. They were particularly active as breeders in 1981, the first year Niatross stood at stud, and bred two notable performers by the sire, Hicaliber Hanover p,4, 1:53.1 ($125,233) and King Charles p, 1:51.3 ($466,435).

 

Mr. Barry left Bradford Bloodstock in the late 1980s and moved to Denver, Colorado, where he began working at a car dealership owned by a family member. In 2005 he stepped back into harness racing by buying a few horses and placing them with trainers Greg Wright and Ray Remmen.

 

In recent years Mr. Barry was a part of the Peninsula Farm family and was always at the yearling sales wearing his trademark hat.

 

A private funeral service for the family was scheduled to be held in Denver.

 

Mr. Barry is survived by two sisters, Marilyn Born and Kaye Franks. He was predeceased by his older brother Fran, who was the manager for Nettle Creek Farm in Illinois.

 

Memorial donations may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetmans Lane, Suite 101, Millstone Township, NJ 08535