Longtime trainer Donald Barr passes away at age 85

Donald Barr, who began his training career in 1979 and won multiple graded stakes, passed away August 2 after a battle with leukemia. He was 85.

A Massachusetts native, Barr began training in 1979 and raced at the New England tracks before moving to Maryland, where he found success. He won 847 races and his horses earned more than $19.4 million.

Barr’s top earner was the sprinter Ravalo, who won 18 races with 11 seconds and 11 thirds for earnings of $1.34 million. The Kentucky-bred gelding won 11 stakes including two Grade III events: the Maryland Sprint Handicap at Pimlico Race Course and the Kennedy Road Stakes at Woodbine.

Maryland-bred Who Wouldn’t won the Grade II General George Handicap at Laurel Park and three other stakes. He won 13 races and banked $448,000 under Barr’s tutelage.

Barr also had a connection to 2015 Eclipse Award winner Stellar Wind. He recommended owner Barbara Houck purchase the filly at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton fall yearling sale at Timonium and ended up training her for two starts in Maryland.
Houck received a substantial offer for the filly after her blowout maiden victory, and Stellar Wind earned almost $3 million for other trainers and was voted 3-year-old filly champion.

Barr was a member of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation (MHAF) Board of Directors and previously served on the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Board of Directors.

“He had a heart of gold,” said Bobby Lillis, a member of the Maryland Racing Commission who oversaw MHAF operations. “He was a strong advocate for those who work on the backstretch and he helped me solve many problems. He was also a great horseman and a great friend.”

Barr is survived by his partner, Carol Swandby; his children, Donald Barr Jr. and Patricia Lang; and grandchildren and a great-grandson.

His family said services are private.

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