Kayla Barker riding for her two greatest inspirations

By Jordan Gerrans

Kayla Barker felt the love from her close friends at her first day at the races at Gayndah on Saturday but in the back of her mind were her two greatest influences who couldn’t be at the track.

Based at Gympie, the young rider debuted at Gayndah before heading to Thangool on Monday to quickly double her tally of professional race rides.

A contingent of friends and supporters travelled to the North Burnett region to cheer on the 22-year-old as she lifted Tyson's Fury to a credible third-place finish in her first official race ride.

It was a bittersweet occasion for Barker as the two people who helped spark her desire to chase her dreams in the saddle have sadly since passed away.

They are her late father Kevin Barker and grandmother June Roche.

In a tragic turn of events, Kevin passed away just days before his daughter was set to relocate interstate after completing high school as she aimed to learn the ropes of becoming a jockey.

"It is really hard to not have them here with me when it has all come true,” Barker said after her first couple of race rides.

“I had to process his death while trying to chase this dream that I have wanted for my whole childhood.

“It was quite hard and I think about him all the time. I ride for myself but I do it to make him proud and make my Grandma proud.

“I’d say my earliest memories of horse racing would be riding my Grandmother's rocking horse in her lounge room watching the races on the TV when I was about three years old.”

Barker says she thinks of her late father every morning when she is out riding trackwork in the cold before the sun rises for the day.

Indentured to Tony Haydon at Gympie, Barker is also part of the growing Damian Browne Mentoring Program at Caloundra.

The respected jockey coach believes the lightweight youngster has a bright future in the game.

“Kayla is a lovely girl with a nice seat on a horse and soft hands,” Browne said.

“She also has a terrific work ethic that will take her a long way.”

While Barker grew up riding at pony club and agricultural shows around the Noosa and Gympie area of the Sunshine State, it was her late father and grandmother who planted the seed in her mind that she might eventually make it as a rider.

Kevin Barker made a crust as a rock and roll singer before his death, performing some of the great Elvis Presley's most popular tracks. 

But, he also had a keen eye for sport and loved his gallops, which flowed on to his daughter.

Kevin always encouraged Kayla to do what she loved – which he did through his music – and that is why she chased her jockey ambitions so doggedly.

“He followed racing and it was something we bonded over and followed together, watching the races,” Barker said of her late father.

“We bonded over the racing, it was something we had in common and he always pointed out the good riders to me.

“We picked the horses we liked and that was the same with my Grandma. My Grandma was my drive to be a jockey, she really loved racing and wanted to see me ride.”

After graduating from high school in 2020, Barker relocated to Richmond in NSW to complete a thoroughbred industry course that gave her a taste of riding trackwork.

The three-month course was headed by former hoop Tracy O’Hara who pushed Barker in the direction of Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Ballarat where she rode work for around four months.

She eventually made her way back to the Sunshine State where she spent 15 months at Chris Waller’s Gold Coast barn.

It was further north again to Gympie where she linked up with the Glenn Richardson barn before settling in with Haydon.

The rookie rider is appreciative of the journey she has been on in recent years as she has been able to learn from an array of experienced and knowledgeable people within the industry.

“It is has been a good three-and-a-half years to getting to the races from starting out trackwork but I have learnt so many things and met so many amazing people,” she said.

“I have been able to absorb so much information and see how everyone does their thing.

“I try my best every day to listen and keep working hard.

“I wouldn’t change anything, it has all worked out how it was supposed to in the end.”

After finishing third on debut at Gayndah, the young hoop partnered with Braidwood Queen for trainer Malcolm Bailey at Thangool’s Monday TAB meeting.

While the mare finished seventh, Barker finished closer to the winner than she did on Saturday aboard Tyson's Fury.

“I was happy with how my horse ran, he gave a lot of effort and we finished really strong on Saturday,” she said.

“We got around safe and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

“Everyone dreams of riding their first winner on their first day but I was just thrilled to be there.”

Barker will likely take rides at Goondiwindi this Saturday as she shoots to grab her maiden victory.

“I have always wanted to be a jockey since I was very young and finally I got there in the end,” she said.

“It is a dream come true and an emotional time, as well as being a weight off my shoulders.

“I am so happy to start this journey – it is really amazing. I was so happy to finally get out there."