Dale Baird memorial set for Jan 14

[MAGICHORSEMAN]

Sunday, January 06, 2008 — Time: 12:51:08 PM

From the East Liverpool Ohio Review- www.reviewonline.com (http://www.reviewonline.com)

Local horse trainer to be remembered

By MICHAEL D. McELWAIN (mmcelwain@reviewonline.com)



CHESTER — The rich life of a local and legendary horse trainer will be remembered and celebrated on Jan. 14.

Award-winning horse trainer Dale Baird, 72, was killed instantly on Dec. 23 after he was thrown from his truck along Interstate 70 near Greenfield, Ind.

Baird was on his way to pick up some horses, according to Tamara Pettit, public relations director at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort. Baird, a native of Martinsville, Ill., came to the Newell area in the 1960s to train horses at Waterford Park.

“To me, he made racing fun,” Rosemary Williams, director of racing at Mountaineer said shortly after learning about Baird’s death. “He liked to kid around a lot and while it was a business for him, he made it enjoyable.”

More at link

[kenwoodallpromos]

Nice gesture.

[mountainman]

I've been asked to provide opening remarks. I only hope I can do the man justice.

[PaceAdvantage]

I've been asked to provide opening remarks. I only hope I can do the man justice.If your remarks here were any sort of indication, then you have nothing to worry about.

[mountainman]

If your remarks here were any sort of indication, then you have nothing to worry about.

Thanks very much Pace. To the mnr nation, he is legend. I'll post something after the ceremony.

[boomman]

Thanks very much Pace. To the mnr nation, he is legend. I'll post something after the ceremony.

Mark: After reading your eulogy for Mr. Baird on another board, I am not surprised at all that they asked you to make some opening remarks at the Memorial Service. I'm sure you'll do a great job and please keep us informed as to how it went....

All the Best,
Boomer

[mountainman]

Mark: After reading your eulogy for Mr. Baird on another board, I am not surprised at all that they asked you to make some opening remarks at the Memorial Service. I'm sure you'll do a great job and please keep us informed as to how it went....

All the Best,
Boomer

Thanks Boom. Ted Arneault, Mnr's ceo, made some opening remarks and then I spoke for about 20 minutes. The turnout was large and it seemed my speech struck a responsive chord.

[JustRalph]

Thanks Boom. Ted Arneault, Mnr's ceo, made some opening remarks and then I spoke for about 20 minutes. The turnout was large and it seemed my speech struck a responsive chord.

care to post it?

[mountainman]

care to post it?

I spoke from skeletal notes and adjusted the tone as I read the room. Near conclusion I characterized him as a strong and honorable pioneer of racing who left a squeaky clean legacy and would have no asterisks next to his records. At the VERY END I said that no hall of fame would be needed to validate his incredible career-because he had passed into legend. I couldn't resist one final jab at those elitist bastards who have refused him his due.

[kenwoodallpromos]

"I couldn't resist one final jab at those elitist bastards who have refused him his due."

[Spectacular Sid]

At the VERY END I said that no hall of fame would be needed to validate his incredible career-because he had passed into legend. I couldn't resist one final jab at those elitist bastards who have refused him his due.

Please don't take this as disrespectful of Dale Baird, but shouldn't the Hall of Fame should involve excellence in the sport's biggest races? I don't know if Mr. Baird even won any graded stakes races during his long and successful career.

Using the same logic for jockeys, wouldn't Dave Gall, Carl Gambardella, Larry Snyder and some other great local jockeys without major victories belong in the Hall of Fame? I think Russell Baze got in, and I don't think he's won many graded races.

If a racehorse won 75 claiming races (or more races than any horse in history), should that horse get in the Hall of Fame ahead of some of the champions that deserve induction and are still waiting?

Again, Dale Baird was a giant where he raced, and I don't want to knock him in any way. But I wonder if winning more cheap races than anyone ever has really should qualify a trainer for the Hall of Fame.

[mountainman]

Please don't take this as disrespectful of Dale Baird, but shouldn't the Hall of Fame should involve excellence in the sport's biggest races? I don't know if Mr. Baird even won any graded stakes races during his long and successful career.

Using the same logic for jockeys, wouldn't Dave Gall, Carl Gambardella, Larry Snyder and some other great local jockeys without major victories belong in the Hall of Fame? I think Russell Baze got in, and I don't think he's won many graded races.

If a racehorse won 75 claiming races (or more races than any horse in history), should that horse get in the Hall of Fame ahead of some of the champions that deserve induction and are still waiting?

Again, Dale Baird was a giant where he raced, and I don't want to knock him in any way. But I wonder if winning more cheap races than anyone ever has really should qualify a trainer for the Hall of Fame.

No offense taken. You make some valid points, and I agree that success in upper echelon races should be the best and primary qualifier for induction-of horses AND humans. But the criteria IS subjective and, in my opinion, Baird's
unique achievements are clearly significant enough to merit his inclusion. A case can even be made that such self-propelled success is MORE noteworthy for having been attained away from the spotlight and without funding from rich and influential owners. Perhaps home run hitters SHOULD get first consideration for the hall, but surely there is room as well for a guy who slapped 9,445 singles.

[Spectacular Sid]

For what it's worth, I couldn't agree more about the "elitist bastards" who run the Hall of Fame. They kept Lukas out for too long and are doing the same now with Baffert. Neither one came up through the ranks in New York and had the nerve to train quarterhorses before thoroughbreds.

[ralph_the_cat]

WHAT!... Lukas got in when he was eligible... Baffert isnt even eligible until this year, 2008...

[boomman]

No offense taken. You make some valid points, and I agree that success in upper echelon races should be the best and primary qualifier for induction-of horses AND humans. But the criteria IS subjective and, in my opinion, Baird's
unique achievements are clearly significant enough to merit his inclusion. A case can even be made that such self-propelled success is MORE noteworthy for having been attained away from the spotlight and without funding from rich and influential owners. Perhaps home run hitters SHOULD get first consideration for the hall, but surely there is room as well for a guy who slapped 9,445 singles.

Mark: The singles analogy is a great characterization. It is absolutely valid for folks to bring up the point that Mr. Baird did win with a lot of his races with bottom level claimers, but when you do that over 9000 times, it now becomes the things legends are made of. Mr. Baird absolutely deserves to be in the Hall and I will campaign strongly to see that he gets there!!

Boomer

[ralph_the_cat]

If a racehorse won 75 claiming races (or more races than any horse in history), should that horse get in the Hall of Fame ahead of some of the champions that deserve induction and are still waiting?


I think thats were people are getting confused... no one thinks Dale should be placed ahead of anyone... just honored for what he has done...

[ralph_the_cat]

The biggest problem with people saying "he hasnt won any graded stake races" is that people seem to forget he OWNED his own horses.... he would go broke if he tried to spend his own money on top 2 yo and 3yo horses... do you know how many of these $100,000 unraced horses turn out to be busts... for an owner... the best way to turn money over quickly is to buy raced horses... that u can show a profit on... so Dale did that... he showed profit on what seemed like all his horses at times... not to many trainer can say that.... Dale never had horses that flopped... he couldn't... he was paying the bills... and had to make money with what he had... I dont recall any owner that was also a trainer winning over $30 million in purses.... am I wrong????

[kenwoodallpromos]

Thoughts:
Pletcher just won #2,000;
many trainers cannot figure out how to keep enough of their own to get to #9,000- Baird figured it out;
I assume Baird was more hands-on and less executive than many in the hall. How much hands on training has some in the hall with 6 assistants done? How many Pletchers only see the horse at the TC and BC races to saddle them? I have nothing against business managers, but their workers do more actual training than many trainers with prominent horses.
Van Berg;
Some trainers in ther had relatively short careers but hooked up with 1 to a handful of rich owners who fed them champs.

[Spectacular Sid]

WHAT!... Lukas got in when he was eligible... Baffert isnt even eligible until this year, 2008...

That depends on what the definition of "eligible" is. Jon White wrote a good piece about this recently, I think at HRTV's web site. If 95% of a trainer's starts were with quarter horses, does that mean the 5% Thoroughbred shouldn't count?

[ralph_the_cat]

That depends on what the definition of "eligible" is. Jon White wrote a good piece about this recently, I think at HRTV's web site. If 95% of a trainer's starts were with quarter horses, does that mean the 5% Thoroughbred shouldn't count?

Exactly how the Racing Hall of Fame states it... is what eligible means...
The racing HOF is about thoroughbreds... from the time he started racing thoroughbreds....on...

Wayne got in in 1999... dont see how it was too late... he was still alive... to induct someone when they are still alive seems early enough to me...

[Shenanigans]

Hardly ever did this man step off his front porch to run with the big dogs..... there's a reason for that. If anyone can't figure out why you're too stupid to bother telling.

[Pace Cap'n]

Hardly ever did this man step off his front porch to run with the big dogs...

So what? That does not lessen an exceptional achievment. That is what a hall of fame is all about--exceptional achievments.

[Shenanigans]

So what? That does not lessen an exceptional achievment. That is what a hall of fame is all about--exceptional achievments.

Take any top 10 Gr. Stakes winning trainer, place him at one cheap track, have the racing secretary write races for his stable and see how long it takes him to win 9,000+ races. Staying on the porch is not exceptional achievements.
Not taking anything away from Mr. Baird, God rest his soul, but why hasn't anyone screamed about him being in the HOF before now? Now that he's gone people are taking note of his accomplishments? The only reason he would be enshrined in the HOF now is because he's dead. It would merely be a sympathy vote. Surely he wouldn't want it that way.

[ralph_the_cat]

Take any top 10 Gr. Stakes winning trainer, place him at one cheap track, have the racing secretary write races for his stable and see how long it takes him to win 9,000+ races. Staying on the porch is not exceptional achievements.
Not taking anything away from Mr. Baird, God rest his soul, but why hasn't anyone screamed about him being in the HOF before now? Now that he's gone people are taking note of his accomplishments? The only reason he would be enshrined in the HOF now is because he's dead. It would merely be a sympathy vote. Surely he wouldn't want it that way.

Where have u been... its been talked about for years... just people that dont know anything about it started talking about it.... a week before his death there was an article in the thoroughbred times about him not being in the HOF... where the hell have u been?...

[ralph_the_cat]

Hardly ever did this man step off his front porch to run with the big dogs..... there's a reason for that. If anyone can't figure out why you're too stupid to bother telling.

U dont make any sense... nor are you understanding anything...

what is the reason?...

[mountainman]

why hasn't anyone screamed about him being in the HOF before now? Now that he's gone people are taking note of his accomplishments?

I've been advocating Baird's case on our show for the last 4 or 5 years.

[ralph_the_cat]

Take any top 10 Gr. Stakes winning trainer, place him at one cheap track, have the racing secretary write races for his stable and see how long it takes him to win 9,000+ races. Staying on the porch is not exceptional achievements.
Not taking anything away from Mr. Baird, God rest his soul, but why hasn't anyone screamed about him being in the HOF before now? Now that he's gone people are taking note of his accomplishments? The only reason he would be enshrined in the HOF now is because he's dead. It would merely be a sympathy vote. Surely he wouldn't want it that way.

ONCE AGAIN U R DISPLAYING HOW MUCH U KNOW ABOUT DALE... NoThInG!...

Have these stake trainers dump all their owners... and race their horses for themselves... wait... they wont have any horses if they dump their owners... looks like none of them could do it... u r stupid if u think any top 10 trainer could easily do that... and maintain the leading trainer title nearly every meet... Steve Asmussen couldnt even win the Presque meet WITH his owners... and u expect him to do it without them?....lmao... he only stacked up 10 wins from well over 100 starts... (he had the most starts at Presque) he got beat by Amoss... an active MNR trainer... not to mention u add up Loren Cox (Dales comp at MNR) plus Dales wins... together the top 2 MNR trainers had less starts than Steve Asmussen but more wins... so ur theory is up in smoke... shlt creek... whatever u want to call it... u know nothing about the situation... clear as day... now go ahead and chew on what ever u can... bash me... do what ever u want... call me names... whatever floats your boat...

[kenwoodallpromos]

I've been advocating Baird's case on our show for the last 4 or 5 years.
I recently recieved a return email from a HOF voter who said he has been nomimating Baird several years but he thinks the bluebloods do not want him in.
I see trainers in the HOF who are either given or develop family backsides or relationships with owners who can affoird to play opn the stakes trail, and a few who do not.
As far as baseball, why are any Cubs or Philles in the HOF? I see many in there hwo had 1 MVP and a couple of good years and are just hard workers a long time besides. Even a few who maybe got in because of who they batted behind.

[Spectacular Sid]

[QUOTE=kenwoodallpromos]...he thinks the bluebloods do not want him in.QUOTE]


In this case, I think the bluebloods are the following people (or were in 2007...this comes from a museum website press release). Anyone who feels strongly enough should lobby these folks. I believe they are the ones who vote on who makes the ballot, which are then sent to a larger group of turf writers, etc.:

The Nominating Committee has 16 members: Edward L. Bowen, president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and a trustee of the Museum; W. Cothran Campbell, president, Dogwood Stable and a trustee of the Museum; Steven Crist, chairman and publisher, Daily Racing Form; Jane Goldstein, retired director of publicity and communications at Santa Anita Park; Russ Harris, retired New York Daily News turf writer, who continues to handicap for the newspaper; Jay Hovdey, executive columnist, Daily Racing Form; Neil Milbert, turf writer, Chicago Tribune; Leverett Miller, owner, T-Square Stud and a trustee of the Museum; William Nack, retired senior writer at Sports Illustrated and a freelance journalist; Raymond Paulick, editor-in-chief, The Blood-Horse; Jay Privman, national correspondent, Daily Racing Form; Jennie Rees, turf writer and columnist, The Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky.; John Sparkman, bloodstock/sales editor, Thoroughbred Times; Clark Spencer, turf writer, Miami Herald; Michael Veitch, turf writer and columnist, Saratogian, New York breeding columnist, Daily Racing Form and a trustee of the Museum; John von Stade, chairman of the National Museum of Racing’s Board of Trustees.

[ralph_the_cat]

[QUOTE=kenwoodallpromos]...he thinks the bluebloods do not want him in.QUOTE]


In this case, I think the bluebloods are the following people (or were in 2007...this comes from a museum website press release). Anyone who feels strongly enough should lobby these folks. I believe they are the ones who vote on who makes the ballot, which are then sent to a larger group of turf writers, etc.:

The Nominating Committee has 16 members: Edward L. Bowen, president of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and a trustee of the Museum; W. Cothran Campbell, president, Dogwood Stable and a trustee of the Museum; Steven Crist, chairman and publisher, Daily Racing Form; Jane Goldstein, retired director of publicity and communications at Santa Anita Park; Russ Harris, retired New York Daily News turf writer, who continues to handicap for the newspaper; Jay Hovdey, executive columnist, Daily Racing Form; Neil Milbert, turf writer, Chicago Tribune; Leverett Miller, owner, T-Square Stud and a trustee of the Museum; William Nack, retired senior writer at Sports Illustrated and a freelance journalist; Raymond Paulick, editor-in-chief, The Blood-Horse; Jay Privman, national correspondent, Daily Racing Form; Jennie Rees, turf writer and columnist, The Courier-Journal newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky.; John Sparkman, bloodstock/sales editor, Thoroughbred Times; Clark Spencer, turf writer, Miami Herald; Michael Veitch, turf writer and columnist, Saratogian, New York breeding columnist, Daily Racing Form and a trustee of the Museum; John von Stade, chairman of the National Museum of Racing’s Board of Trustees.

The worse part about it is that its all Opinion... no facts or criteria that gets you in... its based on voting for whom u like.... Dale had several times got nominated... but the majority always over ruled when it came down to a few of the nominees...

[Shenanigans]

Where have u been... its been talked about for years... just people that dont know anything about it started talking about it.... a week before his death there was an article in the thoroughbred times about him not being in the HOF... where the hell have u been?...


don't get the Thoroughbred Times.

[Shenanigans]

U dont make any sense... nor are you understanding anything...

what is the reason?...

Like I said: If you can't figure that one out you're too stupid to bother telling. Reread my post.

[Shenanigans]

I've been advocating Baird's case on our show for the last 4 or 5 years.

don't listen to your show, sorry.

[Shenanigans]

ONCE AGAIN U R DISPLAYING HOW MUCH U KNOW ABOUT DALE... NoThInG!...

Have these stake trainers dump all their owners... and race their horses for themselves... wait... they wont have any horses if they dump their owners... looks like none of them could do it... u r stupid if u think any top 10 trainer could easily do that... and maintain the leading trainer title nearly every meet... Steve Asmussen couldnt even win the Presque meet WITH his owners... and u expect him to do it without them?....lmao... he only stacked up 10 wins from well over 100 starts... (he had the most starts at Presque) he got beat by Amoss... an active MNR trainer... not to mention u add up Loren Cox (Dales comp at MNR) plus Dales wins... together the top 2 MNR trainers had less starts than Steve Asmussen but more wins... so ur theory is up in smoke... shlt creek... whatever u want to call it... u know nothing about the situation... clear as day... now go ahead and chew on what ever u can... bash me... do what ever u want... call me names... whatever floats your boat...

Dont tell me I don't know anything about the situation. You don't know me and know nothing about me or who I am. Sounds like you're the basher here. Do a little research. Races written at Presque matched the Mtn. stables. Comparing Asmussens record to the rest really isn't fair, seeing how the rat didn't get to play like he usually does. Don't think for one minute he wasn't the most watched trainer at that track. Send those trainers down to Louisiana and Texas and see how they fair against him. Not only is Asmussen getting races written for his stables but he usually gets to play by his rules. You figure it out or are U 2 stoopid?:rolleyes:

[kenwoodallpromos]

10 are New Yorkers or on the Museum board; several others with the 2 breeders' magazines and major national sports outlets. OK.

[Pace Cap'n]

Stupid is as stupid does.

[Spectacular Sid]

10 are New Yorkers or on the Museum board; several others with the 2 breeders' magazines and major national sports outlets. OK.

Interesting observation. Wasn't aware that it was so tilted toward New York and the museum's board. That explains alot.

[alysheba88]

This will come across real ackward. But he was responsible for other peoples deaths. Something to keep in mind. Wasnt a victim.

[JustRalph]

This will come across real ackward. But he was responsible for other peoples deaths. Something to keep in mind. Wasnt a victim.


been waiting on that one................

[ralph_the_cat]

Dont tell me I don't know anything about the situation. You don't know me and know nothing about me or who I am. Sounds like you're the basher here. Do a little research. Races written at Presque matched the Mtn. stables. Comparing Asmussens record to the rest really isn't fair, seeing how the rat didn't get to play like he usually does. Don't think for one minute he wasn't the most watched trainer at that track. Send those trainers down to Louisiana and Texas and see how they fair against him. Not only is Asmussen getting races written for his stables but he usually gets to play by his rules. You figure it out or are U 2 stoopid?:rolleyes:

lol... that was the weakest response Ive ever seen... I dont need to do any research... I know what Presques Condition book looked like... and having that be an excuse why Steve Asmussen got his ass handed to him is pathetic... (It isnt fair?) lmao...

Nothing makes sense that u say... Im suppose to figure everything out for myself because your to stupid to post anything reasonable... I dont need to reread your posts... their not filled with anything meaningful... Just a bunch of "if your to stupid to figure it out... bla.... bla.... bla"... a child could write that... U...R... Pathetic...

[ralph_the_cat]

Like I said: If you can't figure that one out you're too stupid to bother telling. Reread my post.

Like I said...
U dont make any sense... nor are you understanding anything...
what is the reason?...

Reread my post...



don't get the Thoroughbred Times.

don't listen to your show, sorry.

But yet your suppose to know everything about the situation... and because I dont have a clue to what you are trying to say... Im stupid... :confused:

[ralph_the_cat]

Hardly ever did this man step off his front porch to run with the big dogs..... there's a reason for that. If anyone can't figure out why you're too stupid to bother telling.

Does anyone know what this guy is trying to say?... Im stupid...:bang:

[kenwoodallpromos]

Does anyone know what this guy is trying to say?... Im stupid...:bang:
He's saying Baird was not good enough to tell assistants to tell exercise boys to train the horses, or smart enough to kiss up to millionaires so they would buy him million dollar horses and ship them around the country. Of course Servis got that smart in 2003, and Borel just got good enough to win the Derby this year. Sometimes a tainer can train for decades and then POW! all of a sudden they get smart enough and good enough to hit the big time.
Or else maybe Baird just wanted to train near where his family was and figured out how to develop a big barnful of his own horses and keep his win % high enough to get all those wins. Maybe the guy he learned to train from, his dad, was not Lucas or some other big trainer that he could make big connections with. I have no idea. All I know is he is thousands of wins in front of everybody else instead of being a small fish at a big track.
he keeps getting nominated and the blueblood do not vote him into the hall according to the email I got, maybe he just does not have the national FAME of some others.
I've done my bit, even emailed the track and told them to have someone put a bio book out on him.

[MAGICHORSEMAN]

Hundreds gather for Baird memorial service


http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/images/Dale-Baird-memorial-saus.jpgMEMORIAL SERVICE FOR DALE BAIRDChuck Saus photo
by Bob Roberts

More than 250 family members, friends, and fellow horsemen packed a salon in Mountaineer Park's convention center on Monday to give Dale Baird, the world's winningest trainer, a final sendoff.

Baird, 72, who saddled 9,445 winners, died in a multi-vehicle collision in Greenfield, Indiana on December 23. He had been based at the West Virginia panhandle track for more than 40 years.

"He was a legend in blue jeans," said Mark Patterson, Mountaineer Park's assistant racing secretary and closed-circuit television race analyst. "Dale was a quiet man, never boastful; a man with special gifts. He said he wanted to be remembered as a man who worked hard and won the most races."

Ted Arneault, president and chief executive officer of Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, also addressed the gathering, which included men in suits as well as those in baseball caps and cowboy hats.

"Dale was instrumental in what we've accomplished," said Arneault. "He and others stuck it out during horrible economic times. He made sure we put on the races. He then worked hand-in-hand with us to bring in the first [video] lottery machine."

Members of Baird's family that were in attendance received a plaque from Remi Bellocq, executive director of the national Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

"It's an award of merit," Bellocq said.

A slide show tribute to Baird played on a huge screen behind the speakers' podium. There were also tables and easels displaying photos of Baird's accomplishments. Postcards for sharing personal memories of Baird that will be mailed to his family also were available.

“If another trainer won a race a day [seven days a week] for 25 years, he still wouldn't equal Baird's win total," Patterson said.