Bernard Joseph Curley (5 October 1939 – 23 May 2021) was a racehorse trainer, gambler and founder of the Zambian charity DAFA from Northern Ireland[2]
| Barney Curley | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Horse Trainer, gambler, philanthropist |
| Born | 5 October 1939 Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland[1] |
| Died | 23 May 2021 (aged 81) |
Biography
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Bernard Joseph (Barney) Curley was born one of six children to Kathleen and Charlie Curley. He attended Mungret College with the intent of becoming a Jesuit priest, but several years into his training contracted TB and was hospitalised for nine months.
He then owned a bookmaker's shop in Belfast (which went bust) and a pub before going into music management, serving as manager of the act Frankie McBride and the Polka Dots who had a hit on the British singles chart with the song Five Little Fingers.[3]
However he decided on a career in thoroughbred horse racing. As a trainer he had stables in County Westmeath and later in the Newmarket area between 1985 and 2012.[4]
Curley was known as a shrewd operator and was suspected of running "coups" against Irish bookmakers. In particular (and his most successful) the 1975 Yellow Sam betting coup in Britain and Ireland which netted him IR£300,000. Following this success he made a point not to pursue further scams against bookmakers.
In 1988 he made an extended television appearance on the Channel 4 discussion programme After Dark, alongside among others John McCririck, Margaret, Duchess of Argyll and General Sir Cecil "Monkey" Blacker.
In 1995 his 18-year-old son, Charlie, died in a car crash. The following year, following a visit encouraged by a friend, he went to Zambia and troubled by the illness and poverty he witnessed Curley founded the charity Direct Aid For Africa (DAFA)[5] to support the underprivileged.[6]
He helped develop the careers of several leading jockeys including Frankie Dettori and Tom Queally.[7]
Death
editBarney Curley died peacefully at his home, a stud farm near Newmarket on 23 May 2021, aged 81.[8]
References
edit- ^ "THE GAMBLING MAN". 27 August 1998.
- ^ "Home". dafa.ie.
- ^ Liam Collins (24 January 2014). "Barney Curley: A wannabe pop impresario who hit gold at the racetrack". Independent.ie.?
- ^ "Barney Curley: career stats for one of racing's shrewdest operators". Racing Post. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "Home". dafa.ie.
- ^ "Direct Aid for Africa". www.dafa.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Peter (24 May 2021). "'He got under people's skin but men like him are few and far between'". Racing Post. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ Wood, Greg. "Barney Curley, betting mastermind and charity pioneer, dies aged 81". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2021.