Jockey Baird, at Hawthorne, achieves 2,500th-win milestone
Jockey E.T. Baird won the 2,500th race of his career Sunday at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Baird guided Dancin At Midnight across the wire first in the sixth race to hit his milestone. It was his second winner Sunday at Hawthorne, with both horses trained by Steve Manley, for whom Baird rode Breeze Rider to victory Saturday at Turfway Park in the My Charmer Stakes.
Baird, 56, began a roller coaster career in 1985. A truly excellent gate rider, masterful at controlling a race on the lead, Baird had only 11 winners in 2018, eight in 2019, and didn’t ride any races during 2020. He returned to racing during summer 2021 at Arlington Park, getting support there from leading trainer Larry Rivelli, and Baird has put together his best season in many years, with 82 winners through Sunday his highest annual total since 2009. Baird has 20 winners at Hawthorne this meet from just 66 mounts.