Mon Dec 24 14:12:19 2007

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Trainer Dale Baird dies in automobile crash

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Chester, WV (Sports Network) - The Greenfield, Indiana Daily Reporter is reporting that Dale Baird, North America's all-time winningest thoroughbred trainer, died in a multi-car crash Sunday afternoon. Baird was 72-years-old.

According to the newspaper account, Baird was driving a sport utility vehicle (SVU), with an empty horse trailer, when it crossed the median on westbound I-70 into eastbound traffic in West Virginia. As many as five vehicles were involved in the accident that killed two teenage cousins.

Baird was apparently killed instantly, but a passenger in the SVU, Shelby Bartholomew, survived after being thrown from the vehicle. Bartholomew was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter.

Baird recorded 9,445 wins in his career as a thoroughbred trainer. The Illinois native notched his first training victory in 1961

He came from a family of trainers. It included his father John "J.I." Baird, a brother, John, along with Dale's son, Bart, and John's son, J.M.

Although not a member of Racing's Hall of Fame, Baird was recognized in 2005 with a Special Achievement Eclipse Award.

This year he had 132 wins out of 1,159 starters for $2,030,982.