22 December 2010 Dickie Barrett Calls It A Day
by Carolyn Tanner
DICKIE BARRETT: reigning Midlands Champion has made the decision to retire
Reigning Midlands area champion Dickie Barrett has hung up his boots.
Dickie has had more than his fair share of injuries in the last few seasons but this had no bearing on his decision.
"I've never been frightened of getting hurt but I found I wasn't enjoying it as much as I should have done," he admitted, "and although I could keep going for another five years I realised I hadn't really got a future afterwards.
"It's been my life for 20 years and I couldn't have wished for a better time. I've made some great friends, and money can't buy the weighing-room banter. I'm still in one piece and I can walk away with some great memories."
Dickie rode 77 winners between the flags and another six under Rules. His final success came on Miss Bobsleigh at Dingley in May, while his two rides at Black Forest Lodge on the opening day of the new season yielded a third and a fourth. His area title, he considered, was down to colleagues such as Stuart Morris and Rowan Cope - "Thank God they'd retired or I'd never have won it!" he grinned.
He worked for eight years for Caroline Bailey, latterly as assistant trainer, and continued to ride out at her yard one day a week following his move to Fred Hutsby's.
Dickie has not yet decided in which direction his future lies, although he has definitely ruled out becoming a pole dancer. Unlike many retired riders, though, he will not be turning his back on the sport. "I'll still go to the meetings and abuse people!" he resolved.
He finds it impossible to name the best horse he rode, reasoning that they all had a special something. "I had a lot of real good days," he stressed. And although aware that he will really miss those occasions, Dickie has always been one for looking on the bright side. "I don't have to get up early when the weather is vile," he pointed out. "I can turn over and go back to sleep for another couple of hours!"
