Baffert doubles up on hall of fame inductions

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert will be on the banquet circuit of sorts this week, being inducted into two different halls of fame.

On Wednesday, Baffert will be inducted in the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, along with, among others, Thoroughbred owner and breeder Ken Ramsey. That ceremony will be held at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

On Friday, he will be inducted into Saratoga’s Walk of Fame, where he will receive a red jacket and be presented by his friend and colleague D. Wayne Lukas. The ceremony will be held after the day’s fifth race.

Of his honor at Saratoga, where Baffert will join the likes of trainers Lukas, Mott and Allen Jerkens, Baffert said: “That’s very important. The guys that are in there, that’s a pretty elite group. I was very humbled by it when they told me.”

Baffert was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

Had he not had to retire Justify due to an ankle injury, Baffert would have brought the Triple Crown winner to Saratoga to seek a third straight victory in the Travers following wins by Arrogate in 2016 and West Coast in 2017.

“I would have liked to have a good one for it,” Baffert said. “If I can’t win it, I’d rather not be in it.”