(From Arlington Park)
Longtime Chicago-based jockey E. T. Baird notched the 2,000th victory of his career when he guided John Karakourtis’ Bond Street to a 2 1/2-length win for trainer Hugh Robertson in the second race July 17 at Arlington Park.
Baird was joined in the winner’s circle by family, friends, and agent Michelle Barsotti, as well as his fellow riders and Arlington Park executives as a video saluting his career highlights was shown.
“Great milestone,” said Baird after the victory. “This is a great place to do it. I grew up here and I wouldn’t want to have gotten it anywhere else.”
The 42-year-old native of Arlington Heights was the 1996 riding champion at Hawthorne while still an apprentice, and has been a mainstay on the Chicago circuit virtually his entire career. He entered the July 17 card as the meet’s leading jockey with an eight-win advantage over his closest rival.
