Barney's Blog
- 25-Apr-2024: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
- 02-Apr-2024: Close Connection loses his maiden tag in the mud at Pontefract
- 25-Mar-2024: William Pyle gets Stallone up on the line for second Newcastle win of 2024
- 09-Mar-2024: Members of Denton Hall Racing and Dods Racing Club enjoy stable visit
- 01-Mar-2024: Abruzzo Mia and Sean Kirrane get March off to a flyer at Newcastle
- 25-Jan-2024: Marcello Si wins for the second time this year at Newcastle under Clifford Lee
- 17-Jan-2024: Stallone goes in at Newcastle under William Pyle for our third win of 2024
- 04-Jan-2024: 2024 gets off to cracking start as Marcello Si and Hale End land Newcastle double under Clifford Lee
Season's greetings
Tuesday, 12 March 2024
Evening all, Barney McGrew – living legend – here again. We’re getting close to the start of the turf flat season, so I thought I’d better get blogging again. It’s an exciting time with plenty of new faces to get used to and I have to say ...
Read Barney's PostSimply having a wonderful Christmas rhyme
Thursday, 28 December 2023
Evening all, Barney McGrew here – equine superstar, literary genius. So, this is my final blog of 2023 and I wanted to sign off by saying I hope you had a nice Christmas, and to wish you all a Happy New Year. I’ll be honest, I prefer a quiet C ...
Read Barney's PostA Force to be reckoned with...
Thursday, 26 October 2023
Barney McGrew is a retired racehorse who lives at Denton Hall and wryly observes life around the stable. We reckon he's the world's only racehorse with his own blog. He's a bit irreverent at times and thinks it's humans who are the dumb animals. ...
Read Barney's PostHats off to another Open Day
Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Morning all, Barney McGrew – equine beyond equal – here again for your delight and delectation. Well, we had one of those open days again on Monday, in support of National Racehorse Week – and the place was swarming with bloody humans. There w ...
Read Barney's PostPressing matters
Saturday, 19 August 2023
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again – equine legend and sex symbol. Well, there’s been a lot of comings and goings at Denton Hall over the past week, with all sorts of press people wanting to interview The Gaffer ahead of the big Ebor meeting ...
Read Barney's PostIt all Falls into place for my mate Commy
Sunday, 23 July 2023
Hello everyone. Barney McGrew, the legendary equine blogger, here again. I wasn’t going to bother with a blog this weekend because, quite frankly, I couldn’t be arsed. But, in the end, I just had to pay tribute to my old mate Commanche Fall ...
Read Barney's PostKnot forgotten
Wednesday, 5 July 2023
Hello everyone, Barney McGrew – equine perfection, living legend, and heart-throb – back again with another blog. Sorry it’s been a while but I’m getting a bit long in the tooth these days and, with all this nice weather lately, I wante ...
Read Barney's PostStone the crows - where did The Gaffer get that shirt?
Tuesday, 6 June 2023
Evenin’ all. Barney McGrew, living legend, here again. I want to start this week by paying tribute to one of our owners – the human called Dave Stone. He’s been a big supporter of the yard and he’s had a couple of well-deserved winners latel ...
Read Barney's PostA rising star
Friday, 26 May 2023
Evening you lot, Barney McGrew here again. Legend. Now, I think by now it’s pretty clear that I know a star in the making. Look at the way I’ve been telling you for the past year that Azure Blue was going places. Was I right? Of course, I was. ...
Read Barney's PostThe blue sky's the limit!
Saturday, 20 May 2023
Well, well, well, what did I tell you about my lovely friend, Azure Blue, then? Haven’t I been telling you for a year or so that she’s top drawer? The way she won that Group 2 race at York on Wednesday, I reckon we’ve got another Group 1 super ...
Read Barney's PostAll hail The King
Friday, 5 May 2023
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again - The King of Denton Hall. Well, I've spent the day watching the racing in between keeping an eye on this Coronation malarkey. My ears pricked up when I heard the new King and Queen would be travelling in a carr ...
Read Barney's PostOff the mark for 2023!
Saturday, 22 April 2023
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. I need no introduction – I’m a bloody legend. Well, it’s always nice to get off the mark for the season, so a big well done to one of the young ‘uns, Taygar, for recording our first win of 2023 at Bever ...
Read Barney's PostBucking the trend
Saturday, 25 March 2023
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again – equine celebrity, star of the show, global phenomenon. Hope you’ve all wintered well and are looking forward to the new season. In case any of you are feeling a bit lethargic, and struggling to get out o ...
Read Barney's PostThe awards you've all been waiting for
Saturday, 10 December 2022
Morning all, Barney McGrew - living legend - here again and I’m not happy. I stayed up late last night to watch the England match. We were miles better than the French and still lost! The Harry Kane human missing that penalty was like Baeed g ...
Read Barney's PostThe race for Number 10
Friday, 21 October 2022
Evening all, the right honourable Barney McGrew here again, fully paid up member of the Carrot Appreciation Party (CAP). As you know, I don’t normally stray into politics, but I can’t help it in the light of the bloody mess those humans are maki ...
Read Barney's PostThanks a million everyone!
Saturday, 8 October 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew – horse in a million – here again. Well, I know I spend most of my time taking the mickey but this week’s blog has to start with a massive congratulations to everyone at the yard for reaching 50 winners again for the ...
Read Barney's PostOpen secrets
Monday, 12 September 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew here - total equine perfection. Well, what a bloody week! Before I get on to all the winners we've had, let's start by getting last Monday’s Open Day out of the way. I wasn't happy. More than 100 humans came to Denton H ...
Read Barney's PostHilly turns the corner
Wednesday, 31 August 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. Hope you’re all well and keeping fit. Talking about keeping fit, I wanted to say a big well done to my pal Diamondonthehill, who’s really come good lately, winning twice at Redcar and coming a close second ...
Read Barney's PostCongratulations – a thousand times
Friday, 19 August 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. Forget all these arguments about whether Baaeed, Frankel or Sea The Stars was the best – none of them’s got their own blog, have they? Now, I know I spend most of my time having sly digs at everyone and gen ...
Read Barney's PostOh, what a Glorious week
Saturday, 30 July 2022
Evening all Barney McGrew here – the world’s only retired racehorse with his own blog. WELL, WHAT A BLOODY DAY! I’m so chuffed for my old mate Commanche Falls – or Commy as I like to call him – for winning back-to-back Stewards’ Cups at ...
Read Barney's PostA Mash made in heaven
Thursday, 14 July 2022
Morning all, Barney McGrew here, the world’s most famous Barney - just ahead of Barney Rubble. I want to start this week by saying how nice it was to catch up with news of my old friend, Mash Potato. Mash Potato was a stablemate of mine at ...
Read Barney's PostHoliday nightmare
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Evening all, the multi-talented, absolutely perfect, Barney McGrew here again. Sorry I haven't blogged for a couple of weeks but I decided to have a break from the pressure of writing. It's not easy, being creative week after week and I'm not gettin ...
Read Barney's PostNice and Beasley does it!
Thursday, 9 June 2022
Evening all, Barney “I’ve Got My Own Blog” McGrew here again. Hope all’s well with you. I want to start this week with an update about a little human called Kaden Beasley, whose dad is the Connor Beasley human who rides a lot of our horses i ...
Read Barney's PostHopper-tunity knocks!
Tuesday, 31 May 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew, horse of the century, here again. I want to start this week by saying I'm dead chuffed for the Paige Hopper human on being made our new apprentice. I've known Paige since she was a nipper, arriving here straight from scho ...
Read Barney's PostOn a long reign...
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
EVENING all, Barney McGrew - equine royalty - here. On the subject of royalty, The Queen human's Platinum Jubilee celebrations are coming up next weekend and I wanted to send Her Majesty my very best wishes. We have a lot in common, me and Elizabet ...
Read Barney's PostWeighty matters
Monday, 16 May 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew here. A long-standing member of the equine elite and the world's only retired racehorse to have his own blog. I'm on my high horse again - this time over a mythical human known as 'The Handicapper'. No-one ever sees The Ha ...
Read Barney's PostGolden oldie
Tuesday, 10 May 2022
EVENING all, Barney McGrew here again – not that I need any introduction because I’m a bloody living legend. Let's start this week with a bit of Spandau Ballet. I've recorded a new version of one of their biggest hits. All together now ...
Read Barney's PostStar spotting
Saturday, 7 May 2022
HELLO everyone, living legend Barney McGrew here. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you can spot talent a mile off. I remember the first time I saw Mecca’s Angel going up the gallops as a young un. I said to myself, that lass’ll ...
Read Barney's PostHowzat for the latest news!
Friday, 29 April 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. Forget Frankel, Red Rum, Shergar, and Champion the Bloody Wonder Horse, I’m the star round here. Well, what a bloody day, eh? A double with the young 'un Zuffolo and Wor Willie at Thirsk, both ridden by the ...
Read Barney's PostWhat a feat - for the horse with dodgy feet!
Friday, 22 April 2022
EVENING everyone, Barney McGrew here again – legendary racehorse, growing old disgracefully. Well, I can’t let the week pass without saying a massive well done to my pal Motawaazy – or Waazy as I like to call him – on winning on his seasonal ...
Read Barney's PostWhat a bunch of dummies
Friday, 15 April 2022
Evening all, Barney McGrew – handsomest horse, thrilling thoroughbred, gorgeous gelding, riveting writer, brilliant blogger – here again, giving you the benefit of my vast experience. Well, you’ll never guess what the stupid bloody humans hav ...
Read Barney's PostMum's the word
Friday, 8 April 2022
EVENING all, Barney McGrew here again – equine megastar and blogger extraordinaire. What with it being The Grand National tomorrow, I thought I should give you the benefit of my vast knowledge and experience. I’m not a big fan of the jumps – ...
Read Barney's PostGood luck to the first-timers
Sunday, 3 April 2022
Hello everyone, Barney McGrew here – a true superstar who’s never been known to slap a fellow celebrity. I’ll tell you what – if that bloody Will Smith human had done that to me with millions watching, I’d have bitten him on the arse... An ...
Read Barney's PostRaising a glass to the new season!
Friday, 18 March 2022
EVENING all, Barney McGrew here: retired racehorse, legend, sex symbol, writer. Well, the new turf season starts at Doncaster next week, so I thought it was high time I got back blogging. It’s been a strange old winter, saying goodbye to a lot of ...
Read Barney's PostThe Barney Awards 2021
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Hello everyone. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my legions of fans out there. It’s Barney McGrew here with the final Barney’s Blog of the year. As you know, I hold the proud distinction of being the only racehorse in the world with a ...
Read Barney's PostIn search of the truth...
Friday, 17 September 2021
Morning all, hope you're having a nice relaxing Sunday. It's Barney McGrew here again, possibly the most talented racehorse to ever walk the earth. Well, you’ve never seen a blog written by Frankel or Enable, have you? And, on the subject of wri ...
Read Barney's PostWhere's my slice of the action?
Saturday, 4 September 2021
Evening all, I had to write a blog update this week to congratulate by new best pal Motawaazy, who clocked up a hat-trick and his fifth win of the season at Pontefract. What a grand horse he’s turned out to be. He was actually owned by Hamdan al ...
Read Barney's PostEbor Festival Reflections
Sunday, 22 August 2021
HELLO everyone. Barney McGrew reporting for duty. Hope you like the hat. I had it made for Royal Ascot week but I like to get good value for money so I dug it out again for the York Ebor Festival. That's the opposite of my Carole - she'll use any ...
Read Barney's PostA visit from one of my biggest fans
Monday, 16 August 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here – possibly the most charismatic and talented horse anywhere on the planet. As you know, I don’t tend to write blogs during the week – mainly because I can’t be arsed – but I’ve made an exception because I ...
Read Barney's PostHow to deal with the paparazzi
Saturday, 7 August 2021
Evening all, Eeh, well, I had a right good laugh with my pal Commanche Falls this week. He got word through that the bloody press was coming to do a photo-shoot after his win in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood and he was a bit nervy about it. He’ ...
Read Barney's PostCongrats to Commanche Falls
Sunday, 1 August 2021
MORNING all, Barney McGrew here. I couldn’t let the weekend pass without saying a big congratulations to my pal Commanche Falls on his epic win in the Unibet Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood yesterday. Commy – as I like to call him – is a ...
Read Barney's PostFinishing like an Express train
Saturday, 24 July 2021
EVENING all, Barney McGrew here again. Sorry it’s been a while since I last blogged but I’m getting long in the tooth and, quite frankly, I couldn’t be arsed. I’ve been watching the telly with my hooves up today and have to say I was impres ...
Read Barney's PostRoar talent
Saturday, 19 June 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here - legend, superstar, sex symbol, literary genius. I want to kick off this week with a big well done to Hear Me Roar - or Roary as I like to call him - after his win at Redcar this week. I've noticed a lot of improvem ...
Read Barney's PostA right Royal disappointment
Friday, 11 June 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here – celebrity equine blogger and sex symbol. I’ll be honest with you, I’m a bit miffed this week and I’ll tell you why. It’s Royal Ascot next week and, unbelievably, I haven’t been included in the Denton Hal ...
Read Barney's PostHava drink on me....
Saturday, 29 May 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here again. Equine superstar blogger, all-round celebrity, and available for after-dinner speaking engagements. Isn't it nice to feel a bit of sun on your back for a change after all that rain? I've been having a nice rol ...
Read Barney's PostWhat a job for Bob the cob!
Wednesday, 19 May 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here. Superstar equine blogger. Sorry I haven’t done a blog for a while but, quite frankly, I’m getting on a bit and I couldn’t be arsed. Anyway, I was having a natter with a nice three-year-old called Dulla Bhatti ...
Read Barney's PostA sparkling week all round
Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Hey up, everyone, How's it going? Well it's been a right canny period since my last blog. For a start, I have to say a big well done to the Rachael Blackmore human. What an achievement in becoming the first female human to ride the winner of the Gr ...
Read Barney's PostThe Grand National? It's a piece of cake
Wednesday, 7 April 2021
Evening all, Barney here again. It’s the Grand National at the weekend so I thought I’d better show my face and let you know what’s going to win. But before I do that, there are a couple of congratulations in order. Firstly, well done to the ...
Read Barney's PostLooking forward to a bit of Brunch
Friday, 26 March 2021
Evening all, Barney McGrew here... I SEE it’s been confirmed that my mate Brunch is taking his chance in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster tomorrow. Brunchy’s a canny lad and he won three for us last year so he’s definitely worth his place in ...
Read Barney's PostWhen Irish eyes are smiling
Friday, 19 March 2021
Evening all, As much as I’ve loved living in County Durham for most of my life, I’ve never forgotten my Irish roots. I was born on the Emerald Isle and I’ll always have Irish blood running through my veins. Don’t tell anyone but, when no-on ...
Read Barney's PostOh, Danny boy!
Saturday, 6 March 2021
Evening all, Barney here. Barney McGrew – superstar. How are you doing? I want to start this week with a word of praise for my old mate Danielsflyer, or Danny as I like to call him. God loves a trier and he finally got his head in front at Newcas ...
Read Barney's PostI'm back - and snowbody does it better!
Saturday, 13 February 2021
Hello everyone, Barney McGrew here. I’ve had a few months off from the blog, but I know how much you’ve all missed me, so I thought I’d get going again. I woke up the other day and, when I looked outside, there was all this white stuff coming ...
Read Barney's PostRoll out the red carpet - it's The Barney Awards 2020
Monday, 21 December 2020
Festive greetings everyone. Barney McGrew here – the only racehorse in the world with his own blog. Well, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Never mind The Oscars, The Brits, The Baftas, and Sports Personality of the Year. These are ...
Read Barney's PostGetting into the Halloween spirit - and looking ahead to The Barneys!
Saturday, 31 October 2020
Evening all, Yes, I know I said I was winding down the blog last week, but I found myself twiddling my hooves with nowt to do. Anyway, there’s been some strange goings on round the yard this week. I kept hearing these high-pitched screams and I t ...
Read Barney's PostHere come the dark nights
Saturday, 24 October 2020
Evening all, I’m feeling a bit sad this week because I can tell from the dark nights that we’re nearing the end of the season. It’s a bit like when the young humans have school holidays, and they don’t see each other for a while. Some of m ...
Read Barney's PostGold and silver service
Saturday, 17 October 2020
OK, folks, I admit to feeling a little bit threatened this week. As everyone knows, I’m the true celebrity round here but I can’t deny that Dakota Gold is attracting a lot of adulation after clocking up eight wins in the past two seasons. On We ...
Read Barney's PostHappy to welcome Goldy to my elite group
Saturday, 10 October 2020
Evening all, Hope you’ve had a good week despite all this coronavirus business causing havoc everywhere. What a bloody carry on! Anyway, a big well done to Dakota Gold for winning his first Group race earlier today. Goldy won the Group 3 Bengough ...
Read Barney's PostThe day Tommo got me all grumpy
Saturday, 3 October 2020
Evening all, WELL, there’s been a fair bit of excitement round here this week because we had a visit from a human known as Tommo, who’s well known from being on the telly. Derek Thompson, to give him his full name, was making one of his "Mornin ...
Read Barney's PostSix of the best
Friday, 25 September 2020
Evening all, It’s been a funny old week, hasn’t it? The humans seem to be very upset about this coronavirus business dragging on and, on that subject, Shaun Sewell has asked the following question: “Dear Barney, I was wondering how these new ...
Read Barney's PostDon't get me started!
Friday, 18 September 2020
Evening all, Barney here. During the week, I was in my field and I overheard a human (who shall remain nameless) refer to us horses as “dumb animals”. Bloody cheek! Well, let me tell you that humans are the most gullible creatures I’ve ever c ...
Read Barney's PostThe talk of the Toon
Saturday, 12 September 2020
Evening all, Hope you've had a good week. As you know, I like receiving questions and an interesting one has come in from Shaun Sewell (the nice bloke who kindly sent me a packet of Polos last week). Shaun says: “Barney, when you raced at Newca ...
Read Barney's PostFestive greetings - yule love this!
Friday, 4 September 2020
Evening all, I love it when I get fan mail, so big thanks to the Alan Davison human for coming onto the gaffer’s Facebook page to enquire if I’ll be designing any personalised Christmas cards this year. Well, Alan, it’s a bit bloody early to ...
Read Barney's PostWhen the going gets turf...
Sunday, 30 August 2020
Morning all, Last week, I promised to give you my expert opinion on racing coverage on the telly. Well, I have to say that I think ITV Racing do a very decent job and I’m pleased to see they’ve secured a deal to carry on until at least 2023. I ...
Read Barney's PostLove is all around...
Saturday, 22 August 2020
Evening all, Hope you had a good week at the York Festival. I thought there were some cracking performances, not least from my stablemate, Que Amoro, running Battaash so close in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. I see Shaun Sewell, on the stable’s F ...
Read Barney's PostIt's festival time!
Saturday, 15 August 2020
Evening everyone, Bet you’re all looking forward to The Ebor Festival at York next week. You can keep your Royal Ascot, this is the best meeting of the year if you ask me. A bit of a history lesson for you – records show that York first fully s ...
Read Barney's PostThere's only one Barney McGrew
Saturday, 8 August 2020
Evening all, Big thanks to a helpful human, called Trevor Bowerbank, who got in touch on email to pose the following question: “Can you ask Barney if he's doing a bit of moonlighting? I see he won at Kenilworth last night and he hasn’t mentioned ...
Read Barney's PostHistory in the making
Sunday, 2 August 2020
Morning everyone, Well, it’s been quite a week since my last blog. Enable won her third King George in impressive style, but it was disappointing to see just three runners turn out for such a prestigious race. They should have given me a call to ...
Read Barney's PostWriting on the hoof...
Saturday, 25 July 2020
Evening everyone, Well, what a funny old week I’ve had... It started when Phil, the farmer, decided he needed to worm his sheep. Don’t ask me for the full, gory details. I don’t want to think about it – turns my stomach. Anyway, it meant I ...
Read Barney's PostIt's all in a name
Saturday, 18 July 2020
Evening all, Hope the week went well and you backed a few winners. I wanted to talk about names this week. Young ‘uns often ask me where my name comes from but anyone who’s a bit long in the tooth already knows the answer. Barney McGrew was a b ...
Read Barney's PostStrange creatures these humans...
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Morning all, Well, everyone’s buzzing round here after that Jawwaal won at Ascot yesterday. We love it when us northern yards go down there and put one over on the southerners. Mind you, Jawwaal hasn’t been here for too long. He came up from New ...
Read Barney's PostDerby Day memories
Saturday, 4 July 2020
Evening all, Did you watch The Derby today? What a bloomin' turn up for the books that was! Who’d have thought Serpentine would lead them a merry dance like that? He just kept on going and, before the humans realised what was happening, the bird ...
Read Barney's PostExciting beginnings, a frosty atmosphere, and desert island fantasies...
Saturday, 27 June 2020
Evening all, What an exciting day we have in store tomorrow with Mecca’s Angel’s first foal, Hudson River, running over in Ireland. We always got on well, me and Mecca’s Angel. She was a canny lass and she certainly helped to put the yard on ...
Read Barney's PostReflections on Royal Ascot
Sunday, 21 June 2020
Morning everyone. Happy Sunday. I’ve had a nice quiet week, watching the racing on telly, and enjoying having a bit of sun on my back on Saturday. Royal Ascot seems to have gone well, albeit behind closed doors, and no sign of Her Majesty. Nice t ...
Read Barney's PostShear madness
Saturday, 13 June 2020
Hello again everyone, Hope you’ve all had a good week. Another nice winner for the yard with that Arch Moon. He’s another nice young ‘un – always respectful of his elders, and I like that. I can’t stand these uppity types. There’s a bi ...
Read Barney's PostMaking a Mark on racing history
Saturday, 6 June 2020
EVENING everyone. Hope you’ve had a canny week. It’s been buzzing around Denton, what with racing being back. Seems to have gone really well by all accounts. All the horses that ran were full of how well organised it was, although a few said it ...
Read Barney's PostMaking headlines as a radio star
Monday, 1 June 2020
WELL, I might have been ignored by the telly last Friday but I’m delighted to have made the radio this morning. I was part of the BBC Radio Tees breakfast show where they have a regular feature called ‘The Headline Challenge’. It’s a kind o ...
Read Barney's PostThe secrets of staying handsome
Sunday, 31 May 2020
MORNING everyone, hope you’re having a nice relaxed Sunday and had a lie-in, like me. All the gossip this morning is about racing getting going again on Monday. Dancin' Boy, Twist of Hay and Heath Charnock are full of it – just because they're ...
Read Barney's PostUnbelievable! How could the telly ignore the real star of the show?
Friday, 29 May 2020
We had a bit of excitement here at Denton Hall this morning when the telly cameras turned up – but can you believe I was ignored! How dare they? Don’t they know who I am? More than 80 races I ran, with nine wins. That's a career anyone with a b ...
Read Barney's PostBarney McGrew - Remember Me?
Thursday, 28 May 2020
Hello everyone. It’s Barney here – Barney McGrew. Remember me? I was named after one of the firemen in Trumpton – along with Pugh, Pugh, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub. That’s going back a bit. Anyway, suffice to say, I’ve been around the block ...
Read Barney's Post