Exeter and Wincanton clerk Barry Johnson steps down citing long hours

Barry Johnson has left his long-standing role as clerk of the course at Exeter and Wincanton, citing the toll taken by long hours, but is hopeful of remaining within racing as a freelance clerk.

West Country stalwart Johnson had worked at Exeter for 38 years, initially as a groundsman before being promoted to clerk of the course in 2004. He assumed the same role at Wincanton over the past ten seasons.

He said: "I love the sport of racing but working 12-13 hours a day eventually takes its toll and I decided I did not need to work those silly hours anymore. For example, Exeter and Wincanton race more or less every week from October right through until May.

"It’s pretty much non-stop early mornings and late nights and in the end it was a decision that had to be made, so I sat down with my family and discussed the matter and I have now taken stock of my life and realised that it was time for a change of direction.

Barry Johnson: worked at Exeter for 38 yearsCredit: Harry Trump

"I'm 54 next month and I had planned to retire in another 18 months or so anyway, so all I'm doing is bringing the date forward which means I can now take my foot off the pedal and spend some time with my family, which is something that has not been possible recently."

Looking to the future, Johnson declared he is not quitting the sport altogether. He added: "I'm planning to hopefully get some freelance work as an acting clerk of the course on a day-to-day basis and I have another option of moving into making hurdles and fences and supplying them to racecourses."

Exeter and Wincanton both fall under the ownership umbrella of Jockey Club Racecourses and Johnson added that his bosses have been very supportive of his decision to retire from full-time clerking.

He said: "I have discussed the matter with them and said I would be perfectly willing to shadow whoever is chosen as my successor for a couple of months or as long as it takes so they get to know the layout and the ground at both tracks."

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