Congratulations Russell Baze!

[DerbyCat]

Congratulations to Russell Baze for winning his 9,531st race in the 4th race at Bay Meadows today on Butterfly Belle. I know some DTers feel that Russell’s wins have come at minor league tracks (Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields) and while that may be true, his productivity speaks for itself. Russell was born into a racing family and began racing in 1973 in Walla Walla, Washington but it was many races before he won his first at the Yakama, Washington racetrack (his first winner, Oregon Warrior, was trained by his father, former jockey Joe Baze). In 1995 Russell was honored with a special Eclipse Award and in 1999 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Russell has also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, as voted on by his fellow jockeys and he has won countless riding titles at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. Who can forget earlier this year (August 18, 2006) when Russell won 7 races in 7 mounts at Bay Meadows during the San Mateo County Fair (this was the same day they announced Lost in the Fog had cancer).

I am a die-hard Bay Meadows fan, and I have enjoyed watching Russell ride – although I haven’t always enjoyed the odds his mounts usually ended up with, especially when he’s riding a Hollendorfer horse. Russell is also an amazingly humble and polite man. He signs autographs for anyone asking and will take the time to talk with racing fans. I believe he has stayed racing in the “minor leagues” because he has found a wonderful home for his family in Woodside, California (I used to live about a mile from him when I lived in the Bay Area) and he’s satisfied with the opportunities he’s been given. Some may not agree that he is a truly great jockey but you have to give him credit for his consistency and dedication. I’m happy for Russell, admire his accomplishments, and hope that he rides for many more years to come.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

Congratulations to Russell Baze for winning his 9,531st race in the 4th race at Bay Meadows today on Butterfly Belle. I know some DTers feel that Russell’s wins have come at minor league tracks (Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields) and while that may be true, his productivity speaks for itself. Russell was born into a racing family and began racing in 1973 in Walla Walla, Washington but it was many races before he won his first at the Yakama, Washington racetrack (his first winner, Oregon Warrior, was trained by his father, former jockey Joe Baze). In 1995 Russell was honored with a special Eclipse Award and in 1999 he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Russell has also received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, as voted on by his fellow jockeys and he has won countless riding titles at Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. Who can forget earlier this year (August 18, 2006) when Russell won 7 races in 7 mounts at Bay Meadows during the San Mateo County Fair (this was the same day they announced Lost in the Fog had cancer).

I am a die-hard Bay Meadows fan, and I have enjoyed watching Russell ride – although I haven’t always enjoyed the odds his mounts usually ended up with, especially when he’s riding a Hollendorfer horse. Russell is also an amazingly humble and polite man. He signs autographs for anyone asking and will take the time to talk with racing fans. I believe he has stayed racing in the “minor leagues” because he has found a wonderful home for his family in Woodside, California (I used to live about a mile from him when I lived in the Bay Area) and he’s satisfied with the opportunities he’s been given. Some may not agree that he is a truly great jockey but you have to give him credit for his consistency and dedication. I’m happy for Russell, admire his accomplishments, and hope that he rides for many more years to come.

Derby c,
You are fast! I was just going to post the thread. Ya beat me.
Anyway, CONGRATS! to Russell Baze.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horse...tm?POE=SPOISVA