Page 73 - November 2016

TOMMY BARBER
A 12-year-old seventh-grader at Grant Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico
by Tracy Gantz
Trainers’ children usually come to the race- track at a very young age, but few did it as early as Tommy Barber.
“I started being around horses at just 3 weeks old, when I went to my first race at Sunland Park,” said Tommy. “My dad’s horse Magnificent Dreamer won the race.”
Dad is trainer Mike Barber, and if that weren’t enough to ensure Tommy’s racetrack enthusiasm, the rest of the family would have guaranteed it. His mother, Mary Barber, works as the registrar for the New Mexico Horse Breeders Association. His grandfather Lonnie Barber is the director of racing at SunRay Park, while his grandmother Doris Barber works in the racing office during the SunRay meeting.
That leads to summers of work for Tommy as well, something he thoroughly enjoys.
“In the summer, sometimes I go to the barn with my dad and clean the pony pens,” Tommy said. “Then I’m off to work at the horsemen’s kitchen. I take orders, make change, cook, clean, and deliver food. I have met a lot of horsemen and made some good friends.”
Youths at New Mexico tracks grow up
with an extended backstretch family. Everyone looks out for each other, and the children form lifetime friendships.
“My friends range from racing officials
to kids my age,” said Tommy. “My family’s connection to the racetrack has brought it very much into my life.”
Two memorable experiences came when, as a small child, Tommy was able to meet 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and actually sit on the back of multiple graded stakes winner Push The Pace, the latter trained by Tommy’s father. He has attended the races at just about every New Mexico track and has witnessed many of the major Quarter Horse races in the state.
While Tommy enjoys riding his Quarter Horse Red Ryan, he is developing a passion for playing tennis, a sport he took up about a year ago.
“My tennis goals are to make it to the
top 200 professional players ranking and to
go to a Grand Slam someday,” Tommy said. “My favorite female tennis player is Serena Williams, and my favorite male tennis player is Roger Federer. They are the number one play- ers in the world, and they inspire me.”
Tommy has an artistic side as well. He started drawing at about age 3, and this year he began playing the trombone. He had tried the trombone a few years previously, and his cousin Kathleen also plays.
“Kathleen was kind enough to let me have her beginner trombone to use,” said Tommy. “I play in the band at my middle school, and my band director is a pretty neat guy. I like that it is fun to play, and I like learning new songs.”
In school, Tommy especially enjoys science and socials studies, and computer design interests
him as a possible career goal. He has a few years yet before he must contemplate a university choice, but right now he thinks he’d like to stay near home and attend the University of New Mexico.
“I have taken a tour of the campus and played tennis at the Lobo Club, where the UNM Lobos practice,” he said. “They have actually coached and played with me.”
With his equine background, however, horses are likely to remain an integral part of his life.
“I would love to own racehorses,” he said. “It would be very exciting to go to the races to watch them run.”
SPEEDHORSE, November 2016 71
YOUTH INDUSTRY PROFILE