1/19/05
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
CONTACT: TAMARA PETTIT
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
304-387-8335 (OFFICE) 304-479-8097 (CELL)
CHESTER, WV - The legendary Mountaineer trainer Dale Baird
has been awarded the Special Eclipse Award by the National
Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Baird, who recently
recorded his 9,021 career win, will receive the award which
honors outstanding achievements or contributions to the
sport of Thoroughbred racing, at the NTRA’s 34th annual
Eclipse Awards on January 24 in Beverly Hills, California.
The 69-year-old Baird has been the nation’s leading
trainer by wins, 17 times. His closest rival is his good
friend, Jack Berg, who has 6,343 career wins to his credit.
A native of Martinsville, Illinois, Baird came to Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort (then Waterford Park) in
the mid-sixties. His father trained racehorses and Baird
began his racing career as a jockey riding on the local
county fair circuit until he grew too big to continue. Racing
continues to dominate the family with Dale’s son,
Bart, and brothers, Dean and John, also training horses.
John’s son, Mike Baird, also trains horses.
In his 44-year career, Baird has set multiple records including
leading the nation in wins 15 times between 1971 to 1999;
becoming the first trainer to win 300 races in a year (305
in 1973); and becoming the first trainer to win 300 races
in three consecutive years (1979-1981). He also won the
training title at Mountaineer until the streak was broken
in 2001. Baird has also been the nation’s leading
owner, by wins, 17 times.
Baird joins Oaklawn Park and the Cella Family – recipients
of the Eclipse Award of Merit – and winners in 16
equine and human categories to be honored at the Eclipse
Awards ceremony at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. The NTRA
is a broad-based coalition of horseracing interests, including
the American Quarter Horse Association, charged with increasing
popularity of horseracing and improving economic conditions
for industry participants.
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