Russell Baze has owned the bay area racing scene for the past two decades. His accomplishments have been acknowledged nationwide by his inclusions into the National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, the Washington Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the California Thoroughbreds Breeders Association Hall of Fame.Last Friday, Baze’s popularity was felt closer to home when he was inducted into the Multi Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in Oakland, California.
The MESHOF, as its called, was a creation of founder and president Arif Khatib in the year 2000. Originally called the African American Ethnic Hall of Fame, Khatib and his board changed it in recent years to allow athletes of all ethnic groups to be recognized for their career achievements in sports.
Inducted along with Baze on this night were NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry and NFL Hall of Famer Y. A. Tittle. But clearly, Baze was one of the hits of the night.
Once on stage, Barry said Baze was “An amazing jockey and a pleasure to meet in person” and host of the event, former Oakland Athletic Shooty Babitt, called him “the baddest man ever to put on a saddle and ride a horse.”
Then, Russell took his turn on stage, and after citing what an honor it was to be recognized alongside such great athletes as Barry and Tittle, he showed a lighter side, one many of the public never gets to see.
“There are three questions I always get asked,” he said. “One, what is the name of the horse you ride. Well, I rode hundreds of horses last year and I can’t remember all their names. Two, have you ever fallen off a horse. To that I say no. I’ve been thrown off and I’ve jumped off but I have never fallen off. And three, when are you going to stop riding and I’ve actually heard that a lot lately. But it won’t be tonight and god willing it won’t be anytime soon.”
After receiving his award and jacket, Baze took a picture with Babitt and Khatib, prompting Babitt to thank Russell for " letting him not be the shortest guy in the picture"
Baze is the jockey you either love or hate. The bettors love to boo him because he doesn’t win every race he is favored to win. But when you are favored in seven races a day, you’re going to lose a few.But Baze is always fan friendly and never hesitates to high-five a young child that is down by the winners circle. When the 52-year-old does decide to hang up his silks, bay area racing fans will realize that they have watched the winningest jockey of all time do what no other has done, and the appreciation will go even deeper.
In other news, apprentice jockey Kyle Frey will be moving his tack to Parx Racecourse in Philadelphia next week. The 19-year-old, who has won 10 races in 118 mounts, will be handled by agent Mark North.
The jockey sees this as an opportunity to ride more horses in a place that “rides the bug a lot more” according to Frey. He will ride at GGF Thursday and Friday and hopes to have mounts in Philadelphia as early as next week.