Canadian becomes all-time winningest jockey
Last Updated: Friday, December 1, 2006 | 9:02 PM ET
The Associated Press
Vancouver-born Russell Baze became racing's winningest jockey Friday when he broke Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record with a victory aboard Butterfly Belle at Bay Meadows in San Mateo, Calif.
Win No. 9,531 came in the fourth race, when Baze found a hole along the rail and drove through it. He whipped the filly right-handed down the stretch to win on the Longden turf course, named for Johnny Longden, who once held the record Baze broke.
Vancouver-born jockey Russell Baze, left, shakes hands with former jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. after Baze won the fourth race at Bay Meadows in San Mateo, Calif., on Friday to break Pincay's record for most wins by a jockey.
(Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)
"I was sitting behind a wall of horses and I was looking for a way out," the 48-year-old said. "When [the hole] started developing, I immediately headed for it. I was just glad it stayed open until I could get through it."
The inquiry sign was posted after the race, but it didn't involve Baze's filly. The infield display board flashed "Congratulations Russell Baze" as he steered Butterfly Belle into the winner's circle.
Crossing the finish line, Baze said he felt "elation that I had won the race and become the winningest rider, and relief that now it's over. Everybody can go home."
Baze doffed his riding helmet to the cheering crowd.
"I'm not going to do much celebrating," he said. "I'm going to do a lot of relaxing."
But not before he completed his commitments in three other races on the card.
Heavy betting on Baze's mounts
Pincay had owned the mark since Dec. 10, 1999, when he took it from Bill Shoemaker. Pincay, 59, was on hand for his fifth day of watching Baze, who had won one race each of the previous two days. Baze tied the record of 9,530 Thursday.
Shoemaker had held the mark for 29 years after surpassing Longden.
"Who would've thought 32 years ago a skinny little kid with no experience would be standing here today," Baze told the sparse crowd as he stood in the winner's circle. "I could hardly believe this would happen."
Baze's mounts were heavily bet down from their morning-line odds by fans seeking souvenir $2 US win tickets, including Butterfly Belle, who went from early 6-1 odds to being the 9-5 favourite.
Pincay said he bet on every horse except Baze's in the historic race.
"I was trying to jinx them," he said.
'Great' but not legendary
The record is the crowning achievement of a career that began with Baze's first winner in 1974 at Yakima Meadows, Wash., riding a horse trained by his father. Butterfly Belle was bred in Washington state.
Baze has spent the majority of his career in the Bay Area, having tried the ultra-competitive Southern California circuit for three years in the late 1980s with little success.
He has ridden in just two Kentucky Derbies 10 years apart, and is 0-for-3 in the Breeders' Cup.
Baze is not the legendary rider that Shoemaker, Pincay and Longden were, but he's respected for his dedication and competitive desire.
"Russell is a great rider and he works very hard," Pincay told the fans. "It takes a lot of ability and dedication to win that many races."
