One day after Jerry Hollendorfer became just the fourth trainer to win 5,000 races, the person with the most wins of any conditioner in the history of the sport died in an automobile accident.
Dale Baird, who saddled the winners of 9,445 races and won a Special Eclipse Award in 2005, died on Sunday in Greenfield, Indiana, after his sport utility vehicle, pulling an empty horse trailer, went left of center and collided with oncoming traffic.
Frank Gomez, the early trainer of eventual champions
Cherokee Run, Princess Rooney, and Smile, died on December 23 at his home in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He was 78.
Gomez had retired in November because of declining health.
Gomez captured more than 100 stakes victories at Calder Race Course, his base since the track’s inception in 1971. He was a charter inductee of the
Calder hall of fame.
Spring At Last won his first start after a layoff in an 8F Turf Allowance/Optional Claiming race at Santa Anita. He is not only a half brother the GSW's Sharp Lisa and Sharp Susan, but he is the "nephew" to my old horse, Certain Circles.
