Most Wins Ever by a Jockey:
Baze finally broke the record for most lifetime wins on December 1, 2006, at Bay Meadows aboard Butterfly Belle in the 4th race. Baze said, "When I got to the wire it was a feeling of total relief. There was elation that I had won the race and become the world's winningest rider and relief that everyone who had been coming out here could finally go home. I could hardly believe when I started out that I'd be standing here someday, and here I am." Baze added, "I hope to get to 10,000 (winds). I'm really healthy right now, and I enjoy what I'm doing so I don't think riding another four or five years is a stretch."
Laffit Pincay on Baze:
Previous holder of the record for most wins by a jockey, Laffitt Pincay, said, "Russell's a great jockey. He works very hard and he loves to ride. I knew sooner or later somebody would break my record, and when I retired I pointed out that it would be either Pat Day or Russell Baze. Pat Day retired but Russell is still going strong and riding great. I congratulate him and look forward to being there when he breaks it. I think he'll definitely win 10,000 races. He rides good horses, mediocre horses, and bad horses, and he rides them all the same. He gives them everything he has."
A Veteran Jockey:
Born on August 7, 1958, in Vancouver, British Columbia, "Russell the Muscle" rode his first winner on October 28, 1974, at Yakima Meadows in Washington on a horse trained by his father. He has been a fixture on the Northern California circuit for many years and is the perennial leading rider at both Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields, with over 60 riding titles between the two. Although he was born in Canada, Baze is the son of two American citizens and is an American by birth. At the time he was born, his father was riding at Exhibition Park in Canada.
From a Racing Family:
Baze comes from a family of horsemen. His father, Joe Baze, was also a leading rider in Northern Californa and Washington who won many riding titles, so he naturally just followed in his footsteps. His younger brother Dale was a jockey but has retired and is now an exercise rider. One cousin, Gary Baze, is a Washington Hall of Fame jockey, and two second cousins are also riders:
Tyler Baze (well-known on the Southern California circuit) and Michael Baze (an up-and-coming jockey based at Monmouth Park).
Big Fish in a Small Pond:
He has dominated Northern California and although he tried the Southern California circuit for three years, he returned to his home ground again and picked up right where he left off. He has won at least 400 races in 11 of the past 13 years, and was close despite missing time due to significant injuries in the other two year. He was honored with a special Eclipse Award in 1995 for being the first jockey ever to win 400 or more races for four straight years. Not surprisingly, Baze also led the nation in victories seven times: 2002 (431), 2000 (412), 1996 (415), 1995 (448), 1994 (415), 1993 (410), and 1992 (433).
Records and Awards:
In addition to breaking the career wins record, Baze holds the record for most victories on a card in Northern California with seven, set on April 15, 1992, at Golden Gate Fields. He has won the Isaac Murphy Award, a national honor which goes to the jockey with the highest win percentage (minimum 500 mounts), for nine straight years and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. He also won the 2002 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award which honors riders whose careers and personal character reflect positively on themselves and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
Big Horses and Wins:
His best known mount would have to be the brilliant sprinter
Lost in the Fog, who he rode in all but one of his 14 starts. Other well known horses he rode are: Lite Light, Event of the Year, Hawkster, Devil's Orchic, Itsallgreektome, Soviet Problem, and North Sider. He has won most of the Northern California major races multiple times, but also has victories elsewhere like the Oak Tree Invitational, Oak Leaf, Del Mar Debutante, and Jim Beam Stakes.
Hardworking Family Man:
He currently lives in Woodside, California. He and his wife, Tami, have three daughters, Trinity, Brandi, and Cassie, and one son, Gable. He decided to remain in the Bay area so his kids could have a stable home and grow up there. Baze has come back from many injuries including a broken neck, broken back and broken pelvis. He is at the racetrack before sunrise six days a week, working horses he hopes to be guiding to victory in the future.
