Onetime Washington resident Russell Baze will be inducted into the Washington Sports Hall of Fame on Longacres Mile Day Aug. 19.
The ceremony will take place between races when Marc Blau, executive director of the Washington Sports Hall of Fame, presents Baze with a special plaque commemorating the honor.
A native of Vancouver, Baze began his career in Washington in 1974 and won his first race that fall at Yakima racetrack. He moved to Northern California a few years later.
Established in 1960, the Washington Sports Hall of Fame roster features 178 athletes and administrators in 18 sports. Baze joins Basil James (1967) as only the second recipient from the sport of horse racing.
Baze, who turns 54 Aug. 7, already is enshrined in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and Washington Racing Hall of Fame, and has been honored with a special Eclipse Award, George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, and Jack Robinson Memorial Award.
A three-time Longacres Mile winner, Baze is expected to ride Bailouttheminister in the 2012 Mile. He is North America’s all-time leader with 11,664 wins (through Aug. 1) and his mounts have earned over $180 million.
