Hall of Famer Russell Baze Announces Retirement
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Photo:
Don August
When the 4-year-old filly Wahine Warrior came flying down the stretch to dead heat for second in a $16,000 claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, it looked like a typical ride by Hall of Fame rider Russell Baze.
Lagging behind early, Baze rode with patience behind a fast pace, made a move on the inside turning for home and battled his way to the line. He came up one length short in that race, which at the time seemed like a normal second place finish.
But this race will be remembered for so much more.
As Baze dismounted and walked back to the jockey’s room, only his family knew, he was doing it for the last time. Baze walked off the track, told his agent of 37 years, Ray Harris, that he was done, and disappeared inside the concrete wall to the jockeys quarters.
With that very informal announcement, one of the most storied careers in horse racing history, came to an end.
The numbers Baze set are staggering.
Over his 42 years riding, the now 57-year-old Baze amassed 12,842 wins. That’s twelve thousand, eight hundred and forty two. Compare that to the next closest active rider in the United States, Edgar Prado, who at 49 has won 6,899. Many people also have been keeping an eye on the only other jockey in the world close to Baze, Brazilian jockey Jorge Ricardo. According to a Brazilian website that tracks Ricardo's wins, the rider currently has 12,468 wins, 372 behind Baze.
“When Russell and I started, he thought 4,000 wins would make a good career,” said Harris, who also retired on Sunday. “I was a little surprised when he told me he was done, but I was happy. My one wish was that he could stop while he was healthy and he was able to do that.”
Even though Baze was able to go out on his own terms, it was actually an injury that made this day come sooner than he would have imagined when the year started.
On April 16th, Baze was aboard a 3-year-old maiden Hewearsthefoxhat, when the colt broke down nearing the finish line, sending the rider crashing to the track. The result was a broken collarbone and an injured lung that sidelined him for just under a month. But the injury hit home for his family.
“My daughters and wife (Tammy) were all out there that day," Baze said. “They wanted me to stop immediately but I said no, it’s only going to take a couple of weeks and I can come back and be the leading rider at the meet. Luckily, I was able to accomplish that."
“But there was more of a thought process that went on (with my family) of let's not take a chance on you getting hurt anymore," the rider continued. “I think we all know I'm not getting any younger and it was inevitable that I was going to have to quit sometime. I thought it was a good idea to go out before I got thrown out or carried out.”
It definitely was quite a run.
Baze rode 53,578 races with 12,842 wins, 9,600 seconds, and 7,855 thirds. He won four Grade 1 Stakes (Ancient Title in 2010 on Smiling Tiger, The King’s Bishop in 2005 on Lost in the Fog, the Oak Tree Invitational (twice) in 1989 on Hawkster and 1984 on Both Ends Burning, and the Santa Monica Stakes in 1991 aboard Devil’s Orchid.)
He led the nation in wins in 2014 (at the age of 55) with 324 wins, won over 400 races in a year 13 times and won 19 Grade 2‘s and 68 Grade 3’s.
Of all of these stats, there is one that Baze is most proud of.
“My dad was always amazed at how many races I have ridden in (53,578)," he said. “And hopefully, people will remember me as a guy that never got beat because I didn’t try hard. If I couldn’t win, I wanted to be second. If not second, I wanted third. Riding at small tracks like Yakima (in Washington) and others when I started, people back then didn't have a lot of money and if they didn’t have to come out of pocket to pay the jockey and stuff like that, it was better off for the owners.”
So now, after going to the races for the better part of 42 years, he finds himself as a retired, husband, father, and grandfather. But rest assured, he says he has plenty of things to keep him busy.
“Well, this morning I helped (son-in-law) Kyle Kaenel take apart a greenhouse and move it from one property to another,” Baze joked. “But I have a lot of projects I want to do around the house. I’m retired now and I want to relax, play some golf, do some fishing. It’s time to be a man of leisure.”
While Baze says he has no plans of remaining in the racing industry in the near future, one can never rule out what the distant future may hold. But as far as a comeback in concerned, he sounded pretty sure about that.
“I didn’t retire until I was ready to retire. I’m ready to be done. There will be no big comeback or anything.”
And with that, the racing industry says goodbye to one of its best of all time. Russell Baze was a true gentleman and admired by many on and off the track. To a man, almost every rider in the GGF jockey room say they are better riders today, because they rode with him. He brought not only ability to every horse he rode but he brought class to every interview he gave and every fan that asked for an autograph. A person like Russell Baze doesn’t come around every year, and I for one, am glad I got to talk racing with him, interview him, and just see the way business should be handled.
While plenty of riders will now be lining up for a vacant spot at the top of the standings, one thing is for sure. His presence and professionalism is something that has left a mark on everyone has ridden with or against him.
More Russell Baze retirement quotes ...
On not reaching 13,000 wins
“I was conscious of it. It would have been nice, but the way it was going lately it would have taken another year or so anyway."
On his battle with Brazilian jockey Ricardo for most wins of all time
“I thought about it but if he passes me, more power to him. I can’t let what he does or when he might retire dictate what I do."
On his Longevity
“I was blessed to genetically be strong and healthy. I have a fantastic family that supports me at home. I’ve had a career that most guys don’t get to enjoy.”
On why he didn’t announce his retirement before he stopped
“I didn’t want the publicity. Didn’t want them to make a big fuss or a going away whatever. I did it the way I wanted to do it.”
Baze Milestones
Victory Number; Date; Track; Winning Mount
12,000; July 7, 2013; Pleasanton; Handful of Pearls
11,000; Aug. 14, 2010; Santa Rosa; Separate Forest
10,000; Feb. 1, 2008; Golden Gate Fields; Two Step Cat
9,000; June 2, 2005; Golden Gate Fields; Queen of the Hunt
8,000; Oct. 26, 2002; Bay Meadows; Ourwhistlebritches
7,000; July 4, 2000; Pleasanton; This Is the Moment
6,000; Dec. 3, 1997; Golden Gate Fields; Clover Hunter
5,000; July 29, 1995; Santa Rosa; Cyrus Says
4,000; March 3, 1993; Golden Gate Fields; Frank Musso
3,000; Dec. 9, 1988; Hollywood Park; Hagley’s Lyon
1: Oct. 28, 1974; Yakima Meadows; Oregon Warrior
~Thanks to the GGF Publicity Department for some stats used.
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