Acclaimed equine photographer Katey Barrett passed away Oct. 22 following a brief battle with cancer. She was 91.
"That was her whole life—her photography, the horses, the wild horses up in Shingletown at the sanctuary up there—that was really her whole life," said Barrett's sister Jane.
A native of Hibbing, Minnesota, Barrett didn't intend on a career in photography. She decided to leave home and try to make a career in Hollywood. She made appearances in several well-known television shows such as "My Three Sons," "Family Affair," "Bonanza," and "Dragnet".
Barrett later transitioned into television production with an eye on becoming a director. As Jane Barrett noted, "back in those days, women weren't directors so she had trouble doing that." She served as a production assistant on "Mission Impossible," and during that time, according to her IMDB.com profile, purchased a 35mm camera which led to freelance opportunities shooting in what would become her true calling.
The passion for horses was there since her childhood, having rode them and maintained a love of horses over the years. Having been introduced to Santa Anita Park, Barrett soon became a fixture at races and saw her images fill the track's annual calendar. She also shot the photos for Santa Anita's catalog featuring items for sale at its gift shop including clothing that was modeled by jockeys, her sister said.
In addition to her work at Santa Anita, Barrett was involved with several non-profit organizations dedicated to horses, most notably the Wild Horse Sanctuary near Shingletown, Calif., the California Retirement Management Account, and Old Friends.
Her work is recognized around the world as she also shot equine events at Olympics and World Championships.
In 2014, Keeneland Library purchased Barrett's collection. From September 2015 to Jun 2016, the library hosted an exhibit called "Into the Light: The Art and Inspiration of Katey Barrett," which showcased more than 40 of her images. On its website, the library said in acquiring Barrett's images, it is the library's "first collection of color photography and the first to comprehensively document West Coast racing."
"The placement of the Barrett Collection here was the most significant acquisition in Keeneland Library's recent history, and Katey was a steadfast friend and advocate of the Library," said Roda Ferraro, incoming library director.
Barrett's impact on the industry carries on beyond the visual inspiration.
"Katey was an amazing photographer, with a unique and artistic style," said BloodHorse Visuals Director Anne Eberhardt Keogh. "She was quirky and fun and loved to talk horses and photography. Her use of light and motion made her images one of a kind. She always said, 'You'll never see me at the finish line. I'm the one hanging out in the bushes on the turn.'"
There are no set plans for a memorial service, but Barrett will return to Minnesota and the family will gather there in the spring to honor her life.
