Russell Baze is the best jockey.

[Stillriledup]

I think as time has gone on, the GG riding colony has gotten much stronger, especially in recent times. Dennis Carr and Juan Hernandez are excellent riders who could compete at any track imo and guys like Frank Alvarado and Billy Antongeorgi are no slouches either.

Russell would have many less wins if he rode regularly in So Cal or in the 'big leagues' but his greatness, to the fans and bettors, is his ability to day in and day out, race after race without fail, ride a heady and smart race, i think that his brain and his race strategy is as good as anyone out there and that's what seperates him from many riders.

Can he make as much 'speed' as the top riders in the game? Absolutely not, but if i had my last dollar and had to win my last bet, i would probably seek out a R Baze mount to make that wager on.

I watch a TON of video replays as i'm sure you all do to, and what i see is that not every jock who is riding at top tracks is actually good. Some jocks, who USED to be good and currently employ a top and well connected agent, continue to get mounts despite being 'unbettable' for the most part. Sure, those jocks will win a ton of races just due to the numbers game and their agent getting them on top mounts, but for the most part, some jocks are higher up on the pecking order than their actual talent and you can't count on them to always ride well.

I guess the 64 dollar question might be this. Should we hold it against a human racing participant who chooses to be the big fish in the small pond? I think Russell's wins and all his success are totally taken into context by racing fans across the globe, we all know he isnt beating the elite riders in America on a regular basis, but if you watch Golden Gate on a daily basis, handicap their races, watch video replays the night before while preparing for your betting day, you will see that not only does Russell always seem to have his horse in position, but he rides the hair off every horse all the way to the wire....if you need Russell to hang on for 3rd or 4th in the final race (maiden 8 claimer) tri or super, you can expect he will do everything in his power to get that board spot. You certainly can't say that about every jock.

Greatness is what you make it out to be and as a bettor, when i lay my 2 dollars down on the nose, i'm hoping to get a professional ride, i'm hoping my jock handicapped the race the night before, puts his horse in favorable position, rides belly down all the way thru the wire and gives me my money's worth. Russell is one of the very best at giving you your money's worth....that's all you can ask.

[forced89]

Russell Baze reminds me of David Gall, a jock who often led the nation in wins in the 60s and 70s. He rode mostly in Southern Illinois and dominated.

[pondman]

I made $3,100 hundred dollars today (Victorias on fire in the 5th) betting as I've repeatedly suggested. Find a horse ridden by an unknown coming in from S. Cal. Avoid Russell Baze in all races.

I've had a conversation with Chad Schvanevelt a few years ago. He said the key to Russell Baze is that he doesn't make any movements on a horse. He sits perfectly still so that other jockeys don't know when he is making a move. He's got strength and body control. You don't see him flailing around. You don't know if he is asking a horse, and then he all of a sudden gets away from you. Plus he will do all the defensive riding, wedge you, force you inside-- all of the thing many horses won't do.

I disagree with the strength of the colony. There were a few years when they had Baze, Rafeal Meza, Warren, and Hansen.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by pondman

I made $3,100 hundred dollars today (Victorias on fire in the 5th) betting as I've repeatedly suggested. Find a horse ridden by an unknown coming in from S. Cal. Avoid Russell Baze in all races.

I've had a conversation with Chad Schvanevelt a few years ago. He said the key to Russell Baze is that he doesn't make any movements on a horse. He sits perfectly still so that other jockeys don't know when he is making a move. He's got strength and body control. You don't see him flailing around. You don't know if he is asking a horse, and then he all of a sudden gets away from you. Plus he will do all the defensive riding, wedge you, force you inside-- all of the thing many horses won't do.

I disagree with the strength of the colony. There were a few years when they had Baze, Rafeal Meza, Warren, and Hansen.

Where does the top 4 best riders at GG (Baze, Hernandez, Carr and Frank A) rate in the grand scheme of things? We know they're not as good as the elite jocks in So Cal and we know they're not as good as the Gulf/Keeneland jocks, but where do you put these guys, who else is ahead of them?

[Sunday Silence]

Baze tried his hand at the Big Leagues in So Cal and got his lunch handed to him. Great jockeys will dominate anywhere. Look at Rosario. Holllendorfer on the other hand can hang at big tracks and in big races. Especially if he owns the horse. Watch out.

[pondman]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Where does the top 4 best riders at GG (Baze, Hernandez, Carr and Frank A) rate in the grand scheme of things? We know they're not as good as the elite jocks in So Cal and we know they're not as good as the Gulf/Keeneland jocks, but where do you put these guys, who else is ahead of them?

It's really an issue of who wants to ride in a $4,000 claimer. Who is willing to duck inside and try and make a cowboy move along the rail for $400? They can't really refuse or they are history

Baze, himself, is in a league of his own. He keeps showing up for work. He's a hall of famer. Everyone needs to respect him. Would I bet him? No.

There are young kids who show up at the gate who'll do crazy riding. This stuff is much more dangerous than you think. I was visiting a trainer at Bay meadows a few years ago and a chick got toss over the fence onto the asphalt. It was a long way down. A group of trainers were standing around talking about how their workmen's comp was going to go up. It's a tough business.

The last super Jock that rode at the Gate was probably Matt Garcia. He drilled Baze right off the bat and so I started betting him, made some money. These kids aren't going to stay at the Gate for ythe money if they've got any gonads.

Dennis Carr tried to make it in the Great LakesRegion ( couldn't do it at finger Lakes.) Alvarado? He doesn't ride what I bet. All of my success comes from the unknowns, the Francos (bugged at SA) , guys who ride in the morning at SA, and guys such as Sanchez who rides in the morning (I made $22,000 off a ride by Sanchez/ Moss) and David Lopez.

Do I thing they are good horsemen? Yes. They can survive in the business. But do I think they could handle the competition in Florida. No. They'd never make it in N.Y. or in S.Cal. They stick it out for the summer fairs, with $3,200 claimers. And that's okay. They are regular people with families and kids. But they aren't the big leagues. They're not going to have any Breeder cup bios or derby mounts. And they know they won't get the phone calls.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by pondman

It's really an issue of who wants to ride in a $4,000 claimer. Who is willing to duck inside and try and make a cowboy move along the rail for $400? They can't really refuse or they are history

Baze, himself, is in a league of his own. He keeps showing up for work. He's a hall of famer. Everyone needs to respect him. Would I bet him? No.

There are young kids who show up at the gate who'll do crazy riding. This stuff is much more dangerous than you think. I was visiting a trainer at Bay meadows a few years ago and a chick got toss over the fence onto the asphalt. It was a long way down. A group of trainers were standing around talking about how their workmen's comp was going to go up. It's a tough business.

The last super Jock that rode at the Gate was probably Matt Garcia. He drilled Baze right off the bat and so I started betting him, made some money. These kids aren't going to stay at the Gate for ythe money if they've got any gonads.

Dennis Carr tried to make it in the Great LakesRegion ( couldn't do it at finger Lakes.) Alvarado? He doesn't ride what I bet. All of my success comes from the unknowns, the Francos (bugged at SA) , guys who ride in the morning at SA, and guys such as Sanchez who rides in the morning (I made $22,000 off a ride by Sanchez/ Moss) and David Lopez.

Do I thing they are good horsemen? Yes. They can survive in the business. But do I think they could handle the competition in Florida. No. They'd never make it in N.Y. or in S.Cal. They stick it out for the summer fairs, with $3,200 claimers. And that's okay. They are regular people with families and kids. But they aren't the big leagues. They're not going to have any Breeder cup bios or derby mounts. And they know they won't get the phone calls.

I think you must mean Martin Garcia.

[bigchump]

Baze holds the Santa Anita track record for 1½ miles on turf set on October 14, 1989, aboard the 3-year-old colt, Hawkster.
He also rode in two Derbys and finished double-digits both times.

[Gallop58]

Originally Posted by bigchump

Baze holds the Santa Anita track record for 1½ miles on turf set on October 14, 1989, aboard the 3-year-old colt, Hawkster.
He also rode in two Derbys and finished double-digits both times.

Ahemmm.... Not anymore. (Track record)
Bright Thought nabbed a new WR on the same course just recently.

[picojim]

nice long article in the NY Times about Baze

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013...t=introduction

[fouroneone]

Excellent article. Not just a great story about Russell's life and career but a great look into the state of our sport in general outside of NYRA and Kentucky.

[Midnight Cruiser]

Originally Posted by TVGfan

nice long article in the NY Times about Baze

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013...t=introduction

Great piece. Thanks for sharing. MC