Barbara "Casper" Mingolla

Anyone who knew Barbara always saw her in her home in Sutton, on her Morgan horse. An accomplished equestrian, she competed successfully in AAA horse shows, jumping with Tanheath Hunt Club, or driving Clydesdales or her Morgans, she perfected her knowledge of horse's legs/muscles, and she attributed her riding skills and knowledge to Merrimac Farm, Dr. H. MacMillan.
While still in high school, she was asked to be part of the top thoroughbred racing team of Woodford "Woody" Stephens, a once in a lifetime job, at New York Racing Association's Belmont Park, N.Y. She became one of the first women out-riders, opening the doors for other women in the industry. Working with top trainers Alan Jerkins, Al Sweitzer, she could always be heard laughing, saying, "Can you imagine, they pay us to work here and Secretariat is next door!" A most exciting time in horse racing history. She could always be seen with her late best friend jockey Mary Bacon, Ron Turcott, Stephen Cauthern, and other top jockeys, laughing the day away!
Working with the great "Woody" Stephens, they won 5 consecutive Belmont Stakes, with Conquisador, Cielo, Caveat, Swale, Creme Fraiche, Danzig Connection, The Preakness, Blue man, Kentucky Derby's, Swale and Cannoade, Horse of year, trainer of the year, Kentucky Oaks, plus other top races. It was truly the heyday of horse racing at Belmont Park. In her off-time Barbara could often be found at her second home, in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Seeing a change in the industry, Barbara opened her own stables, Folksong Farm, where she bred Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs, Morgan horses, and opened the doors to private, off the track stabling of Thoroughbred Racehorses across the USA. She enjoyed photography and taking photos of people in their jobs. She often found people working at their jobs, sometimes for 30 years, and never ever took a photo of what they did. She would surprise them with their own photos and flowers!
In an industry that has turned horrific, she started to rescue abused and drugged racehorses, finding permanent homes for over 4200 racehorses, across the USA. A sometimes dangerous job.
Working with judges, police, and other locals, she opened her farm, Folksong Farm to abused/neglected/divorced children, who, as Barbara would say, "just need a small break in their lives, and get away from adults, who put children in adult situations. It always amazes me, what a child will tell a horse, and the 1200 lb. horses {complete with a red cape}, intuitively knew, and in making them feel safer, they would always help them open up and tell the horses exactly how they were feeling."
Barbara leaves her best friend Jon Foote; friend Ellen Laprise and her husband Stephen, Debra Ronick and her husband John; longtime friend Eugene Scafidi and his daughter Gina; and all her friends from Belmont and Saratoga Springs.
A celebration of life in Barbara's honor will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.