Michael Baze

Michael Carl Baze
Occupation	Jockey
Born	April 14, 1987(1987-04-14) Renton, Washington, U.S.
Died	May 10, 2011(2011-05-10) (aged 24)
Career wins	918
Major racing wins, honours and awards
Major racing wins
Carleton F. Burke Handicap (2006) Borderland Derby (2006) Las Flores Handicap (2007) Oak Tree Mile Stakes (2007) American Invitational Handicap (2007) Best Pal Stakes (2007) Wilshire Handicap (2007) San Diego Handicap (2007) California Cup Matron (2007) California Cup Classic (2008) Borderland Derby (2009) Potrero Grande Handicap(2009) Sorrento Stakes (2009)
Significant horses
Mi Sueno

Michael Carl Baze^[1] (April 14, 1987^[2] – May 10, 2011) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.

He grew up in a family with an extensive history in the sport. His father was a jockey who rode primarily at tracks in the Pacific Northwest and his uncle Gary Baze is a member of the Washington Racing Hall of Fame. Baze was also a cousin to jockey Tyler Baze and to U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Russell Baze.

Baze obtained his jockey's license in 2003 and began riding in California before heading to the east coast of the United States later that year where he met with success at Monmouth Park Racetrack in New Jersey. In 2006, he returned to a base in southern California and the following year was his breakout year when he was the leading rider at the Hollywood Park Racetrack spring/summer season and at the Del Mar Racetrack.

On May 10, 2011, Baze's body was found inside his Cadillac Escalade in the stable area of Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.^[3] The next day it was reported that a preliminary autopsy found no natural cause of death and that toxicology test results would not be available for three weeks.^[4] It was also reported that Baze was scheduled to appear in court in Louisville on a cocaine possession charge.^[5]

On June 3, 2011, deputy Jefferson County coroner Jim Wesley reported that Michael Baze died of an accidental overdose. Toxicology results in the autopsy found cocaine and the prescription painkiller oxymorphone, also known as opana, in the rider's system. Levels of the drugs were not released. The official cause of death is listed as multiple substance intoxication, which the deputy coroner said is an overdose.^[6]

Year-end charts

Chart (2006–present)	Peak position
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006	83
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007	18
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008	40
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009	74

References

1. ^ "A star is born, a father reborn in horse racing's Baze family" Press-Enterprise May 12, 2011.
2. ^ "Michael Baze Found Dead at Churchill Downs" Cforce Media May 12, 2011.
3. ^ Jockey Michael Baze found dead at Churchill Downs
4. ^ "Test results awaited after death of jockey Michael Baze" USA Today, May 11, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
5. ^ McGee, Marty. "Michael Baze autopsy inconclusive; jockey found dead was facing cocaine charge" Daily Racing Form, May 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
6. ^ "Jockey Michael Baze death ruled accidental drug overdose" Gregory A. Hall, (Louisville) courier-journal.com, June 3, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.

See also

• November 6, 2007, ESPN article on Michael Baze

Persondata
Name	Baze, Michael Carl
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 14, 1987
Place of birth	Renton, Washington, U.S.
Date of death	May 10, 2011
Place of death	Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky