When the news of Michael Baze’s death was released last week, it sent shock waves through the California racing community.
Hollywood Park was hit the hardest because of Baze’s connections there. After starting his career in Southern California, he was the leading rider at the 2006 spring meet at Hollywood. Also his first cousin Tyler, is one of the areas top jockeys.
Golden Gate also felt the blow. Not only is leading rider Russell Baze his cousin, but Michael’s longtime friend, jockey Chris Russell (left), was here when he heard the news. Russell, the second leading thoroughbred rider at Los Alamitos, moved his business to GGF two weeks ago.
Russell owes a lot of his career to Michael Baze.
“Even though Michael was 6 years younger than me, he was my mentor,” Russell said. “He taught me how to ride. When I started riding races I didn’t know what the heck I was doing. I was so bad, I didn’t even know, that I didn’t know.
“I met him when he came over to Los Al and he showed me a few things on the Equicizer (mechanical horse) and it just progressed. He taught me to never be satisfied with the way you ride, always want to be better.”
Michael Baze was close with Russell and his family on and off the track.
“We went paint balling together, played video games together. He was my best friend. When I last talked to him on the phone, he was excited about the upcoming Churchill meet. He was such a great kid.”
Russell took to the track at Golden Gate Fields with a heavy heart this past weekend, and on his third mount since Baze’s death, brought home a 17-1 shot for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
“As soon as I hit the wire, he (Michael) was the first thing I thought of,” Russell said.
It’s a win that Russell hopes will propel his most recent return to the area.
“I came up here the last two summers and I absolutely love the area. I want to stay. I feel like, be where it most makes you happy and good things will come. I love it here and I plan on staying. I will ride it out till the end. I wanted to make sure this time I was in the best shape of my career and I feel I am.”
Hollendorfer a Hall of Famer
Congratulations goes out to Jerry Hollendorfer, who got the call last week that he is the newest inductee to the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame.
This honor is long over due and well deserved. Of the 10 finalists, he was the only human to get in. Jerry, along with horses Safely Kept, Sky Beauty and Open Mind, will be inducted in a ceremony on August 12 in New York. It will be televised on TVG.
Finally, the rest of the racing world will know what we at GGF have known for a long time. Jerry Hollendorfer is one of the top trainers in horse racing.