NYRA Horsemen's Liaison Carmen Barrera Dies

The New York racing world was stunned the morning of Aug. 8 to learn of the sudden death of Carmen Barrera, the long-time director of horsemen's relations with the New York Racing Association. A cause of death was not immediately known. Barrera was 60 years old. 

NYRA made an announcement at Saratoga Race Course and asked for a moment of silence shortly after the second race. 

"I knew Carmen since I was a baby," said Adam Coglianese, NYRA track photographer. "We worked together for 25 years. I'm in absolute shock. No words." 

Barrera's tenure at the racetrack began in 1978 when she was a teenager, working as a white cap in the grandstand at Saratoga. Her family had deep ties to racing. The year she started at NYRA her uncle Laz Barrera campaigned Affirmed to a Triple Crown title. Her father, Luis, was a trainer as well, campaigning Summing to victory in the 1981 Belmont Stakes (G1), and her cousin, Juan Dominguez is NYRA's racing facilities coordinator.

"Carmen Barrera was a helping hand and guiding light for countless horsemen, guests and employees for the last four decades," said NYRA board of directors chairman Michael Del Giudice. "Carmen was a special part of the fabric of racing in New York, and she will be missed deeply."

Barrera worked at NYRA for 41 years, making her the longest-tenured female employee of the association. She was especially proud of her family's contributions to American racing history. When asked last year to pick her most memorable Belmont Stakes, she answered: "How can I pick just one?"

"I was so proud of my dad that day," Barrera recalled of her father's win in the 1981 Belmont. "Summing ended Pleasant Colony's Triple Crown bid, and George Martens rode a great race. The Belmont was the Triple Crown race my father had wanted to win because it was our home track."

Barrera was a familiar face to those who regularly attended the races and those who watched from home, shepherding connections in the winner's circle for win photos and trophy presentations, then for a champagne toast for stakes winners. 

"Today's a devastating day," said owner Mike Repole. "She touched a lot of people. Whether it was my 4-year-old daughter or my 94-year-old grandmother, she made sure they were taken care of. It was always special winning the big race and having Carmen hand you the trophy. That big winning experience won't be the same without her."  

"She was the heart and soul of the race office," said owner Michael Dubb, standing near Barrera's desk. "She was the bedrock. She was always pleasant, she always smiled, she was one of those people no one could ever say a bad word."

Alysse Jacobs, who has worked with Barrera for the last 10 years, said, "Working with her was my first full-time job at the racetrack. I learned everything from her. She liked to tell me that she had forgotten more than I'd ever know. She's been working here longer than I've been alive."

"God has strange ways of doing things, but this is incomprehensible," Dubb said. "It won't be the same ever, ever walking into this office."

"She was a small person, but she's leaving a very big void," Jacobs said.