From a Monmouth Park release
Longtime horsewoman Ramona Barney passed away on Monday, Sept. 22; she was 86. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, New Jersey trainer Ed Barney.
From a career that spanned most of her life, Ramona Barney had done just about every job in racing. She was a breeder, owner, assistant trainer, exercise rider, groom and pony person.
A native of Ohio, her first exposure to the racetrack came at Thistledown, just outside of Cleveland. From there she went on to Churchill Downs and eventually Hialeah Park, where in 1966 she met and married Ed.
The two successfully operated the Colts Neck, New Jersey farm Tourelay, which is still operational today. In addition to the farm, Ramona and Ed had a pony business which provided services for horses in training and leading up to the starting gate.
Sierra Ancha, owned and bred by Ramona and trained by Ed was their most recent success story, having captured the 2013 Charles H. Hesse III Handicap for New Jersey-bred runners at Monmouth Park.
