Bob Baffert Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Early Years And Education

Bob Baffert, was born 13th January 1953, to Bill Baffert Sr., and his wife, Ellie. He was born in Nogales, Arizona, in the United States. His family lived on a ranch, raising livestock. Bob Baffert's father bought some Quarter Horses when; Bob Baffert, was ten years old, and Baffert used to race them around the farm on a dirt track.

Career

While still in school, Bob Baffert, took work as a jockey. The races were local Quarter Horse races, and Bob Baffert was paid $100 per day. At the age of 17, Bob Baffert won his first official race at a legal track. Once he had graduated from university, Bob Baffert, started training Quarter Horses. He was only 20 years old when had developed his reputation as a great trainer. Once his reputation was established, he also trained horses for other trainers.

Bob Baffert, moved to California in the 1980s to work at Los Alamitos Race Course. It was at this time that he started training Thoroughbreds. In 1997 and 1998, Bob Baffert trained the horses that won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. He was the first trainer in history to win both races back-to-back.

In the U.S., if a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, it is known as the Triple Crown. After coming close in 1997-1998, Bob Baffert again came close in 2001. This time his horse won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. In 2002, his horse won the Derby and the Preakness. He was so close so many times, yet so far.

Bob Baffert, came close again in 2010 and 2012, but it wasn’t until 2015, that American Pharaoh, trained by Bob Baffert, won the Triple Crown. It had been 37 years since the previous Triple Crown winner. Through his horse-training career to date, Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby five times and had 11 top three finishes, the Preakness Stakes six times, and he has won the Belmont Stakes twice, with five top three finishes. In 1999, Bob Baffert released his biography, called, Bob Baffert, Dirt Road to the Derby.

Awards And Honors

Bob Baffert, has won many awards and honors. He has won American Champion 17 times in various categories. He has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer four times, and he was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.

Personal

Bob Baffert's; first wife was Sherry, and the couple had four children together.

After divorcing Sherry, Bob Baffert married Jill Moss in 2002. Moss had been a television reporter. They have a son together.

Charity Works

Bob Baffert, supports various charities specifically to do with the racing industry. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Old Friends Equine, and the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund have all been beneficiaries of substantial donations, as have various other charities.