His career is summed up by two top class racehorses – Ayrshire and Donovan – which he rode in their championship years of 1888 and 1889.

While going clear, he jabbed Ayrshire on one side only with his spurs, causing the horse to veer wildly and nearly give the race away.

Much was therefore expected of him as a three-year-old, and it was with great hopes of success that Barrett took the ride on him in the first colts' classic of the following season – the 2,000 Guineas.

By all reports, he took it too easily on the colt,[2] resulting in a defeat which ultimately cost him the Triple Crown.

He did, however, make amends for his Guineas defeat by winning the third leg of the Triple Crown, the St. Leger Other races Barrett won during his career were the Eclipse Stakes, Cambridgeshire Handicap, Royal Hunt Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes.