Hall of Fame class: Three very new added in 2011

The Historic Review Committee of the National Museum of Racing has announced that 19th century horse Duke of Magenta along with champion jockey Shelby 'Pike' Barnes and celebrated trainer Matthew Byrnes have been elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

These three join veteran trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, along with fillies Open Mind, Safely Kept and Sky Beauty in completing the 2011 Hall of Fame class. The induction ceremony is to be held on Friday, August 12.

Born in 1875, Duke of Magenta was owned by George L. Lorillard and trained by Robert Wyndham Walden. In 1877 as a two-year-old he won four of seven starts, including the last three, while finishing second in three.

In 1878, Duke of Magenta won 11 of 12 starts, including the Preakness, Withers, Belmont, Travers, Kenner, and Jerome Stakes. His only loss as a three-year-old was in the Jersey Derby when he finished third after reportedly spiking a fever.

Duke of Magenta never raced again after his three-year-old season when he became ill on the voyage to Europe. He had been sold by Lorillard to his brother Pierre who wanted to race the colt in England.

Duke of Magenta won 15 of 19 career starts with earnings of $45,412.

Barnes was one of the many excellent black jockeys who dominated thoroughbred racing in the late 19th century.

A native of Kentucky, Barnes became the first rider to reach 200 wins in a year when he posted 206 victories in 1888. The following year Barnes booted home 170 horses to the winner's circle, winning the Travers Stakes aboard Long Dance and the Champagne Stakes with June Day.

Unfortunately, Barnes' riding career began to dim after 1891 and he passed away in 1908 in Columbus, OH at the age of 37.

Byrnes began his training career after working as a top jockey in the 19th century. Following his apprenticeship under Hall of Fame conditioner Jacob Pincus, Byrnes was hired by Pierre Lorillard as head trainer for the Master of Rancocas stable.

In 1881 Byrnes trained eight-year-old Parole to victories in 12 of 24 starts and in the next two years the horse won 15 of 42 starts.

Byrnes saddled Pontiac to victory in the 1885 Suburban Handicap and then won the race in 1890 with future Hall of Famer Salvator and in 1892 with Montana. Salvator was owned by James Ben Ali Haggin and the horse ended his career with 16 wins in 19 starts.

He retired from training in 1900, eventually worked as a bloodstock advisor before he died in Asbury Park, NJ in 1933 at the age of 80.