Matt Baker (1955 – 2017) was an American

Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...

trainer and

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...

Early life

Maddox "Matt" Lafayette Baker was born on March 26, 1955, in

Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...

and died on February 7, 2017. He grew up in Texas, graduating from Deer Park High School in 1974. As a teenager he was a jockey in east Texas and began his training career shortly thereafter. MB 1972 Crop 2

Racing career

Based in Louisiana and Texas, from 1974 to 2007 Baker saddled 4,088 horses, compiling a record of 790 wins, including 17 stakes victories in Texas and Louisiana. His top earner was First Down Toro, who won the 2006 LQHBA Breeders Futurity at

Evangeline Downs Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino is a racetrack in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, just east of Opelousas. It is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming. With a one-mile oval track, the facility provides close to 1,000 horse stalls for Thoroughbred f ...

. He won the 2000 TQHA Sale Futurity with Cash To the Front and had multiple stakes wins with Prince of Strides, Jack Zee Quick, Strider Man and Mr Bar Code. Other notable racehorses trained by Baker include past AQHA Champions Johnny Vittoro, and Shining Sky.

Awards

In 2005, Baker was awarded the

Texas Department of Public Safety The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, commonly known as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is a department of the state government of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license adminis ...

's Director's Award after rescuing a toddler from a submerging car that had driven off the road and into a pond on his ranch. * Multiple Graded Stakes winning trainer * 1981 Leading Trainer,

Delta Downs Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel is an American thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in Calcasieu Parish, near Vinton, Louisiana in the southwest portion of the state. The facility is owned by Boyd Gaming. History The track opened in ...

* "Million-Dollar Trainer" Speedhorse Magazine

Posthumous Honors

Matt Baker Memorial Race at

* May 12, 2017 ** Winner: Strong Guns, owned by Lester Colomb, Jr., trained by Kenneth Weeks, and ridden by Damian Martinez. * May 26, 2018 ** Winner: Dashing Padre, owned by Rodney Verret, trained by Kenneth Roberts, Sr., and ridden by Noe Castaneda. * May 18, 2019 ** Winner: TBD 2018 Matt Baker Memorial

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Matt 1955 births 2017 deaths People from Columbus, Georgia American Quarter Horse trainers American jockeys