Arlington stewards revoke E.T. Baird's jockey license

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Edward “E.T.” Baird’s jockey’s license has been revoked by stewards at Arlington.

In an official ruling dated Sept. 13, 2019, Baird was cited for violation of Illinois Racing Board rule 508.30 B, whereby a licensed individual is to be suspended for refusing to submit to a stewards’ request to take a breathalyzer test. Baird was penalized under rule 508.40 D, fourth violation of the breathalyzer test rule, which mandates license revocation.

Baird, 52, had just started to gain traction at the Arlington meet. After not race-riding for the better part of a year, Baird made a mid-summer comeback and after a slow start had ridden eight winners from 37 mounts this season. Baird, whose father, Robert, was a successful jockey, was a lauded apprentice jockey in 1986, when he rode 171 winners. He’s notched 2,419 career victories, but his obvious talent on horseback long has been hamstrung by struggles out of the saddle.

* Arlington stewards on Sept. 9 handed jockey Javier Tavares a 10-day suspension for dangerous riding in the eighth race Sept. 2 at Arlington. Tavares already has served several of those days but is suspended for three more racing days in September and three more in October.