Longtime New Jersey horseman Ed Barney dies
Longtime New Jersey owner, breeder, and trainer Ed Barney died last Saturday at age 88.
According to Bob Kulina, the president of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park, Barney raced at the track since it opened in 1946.
"I met him through my father," Kulina said.
Barney was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Ramona, who died in September 2014. The Barneys owned and operated the farm Tourelay in Colts Neck, N.J.
The Barneys bred horses in New Jersey under Ramona's name and Ed would train them. Barney won with his final starter on Aug. 6, when Easy Landing scored by two lengths in a statebred $10,000 maiden-claiming race.
Barney's biggest win in recent years came in 2013 when Sierra Ancha rallied from 10th position to win the $64,000 Charles Hesse III Handicap for statebreds at Monmouth Park.
In addition to breeding and training horses, Barney operated a pony business at Monmouth, which provided horses who would escort starters to the gate during the races.
"Ed was a racetracker, a horseman," Kulina said. "He knew everyone through his pony business. I learned a lot about maintaining a racing surface from Ed. He was out on the track in the morning and in the afternoon. I always respected his opinion."
Barney was presented the Virgil "Buddy" Raines Award by Monmouth prior to the opening of the year's meet. The Raines Award honors men and women who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing as an owner or trainer, and whose conduct has been exemplary for professionalism, integrity and service to the sport.
Funeral arrangements are pending.