Churchill Downs: Jockey Michael Baze found dead in stable area
By Marty McGee
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Michael Baze, the leading jockey at Arlington Park last summer and a member of the famed Baze riding family of the western United States, was found dead Tuesday afternoon in his vehicle in the stable area of Churchill Downs. He was 24.
A Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman, Alicia Smiley, said Tuesday evening that police have undertaken an investigation into the death. Churchill spokesman John Asher said track officials were not at liberty to comment on the death.
Bobby Kelly, whom Baze had recently hired as his agent, said he tried to call and text Baze all morning but got no response. Kelly said backstretch workers informed him that Baze apparently had been in his vehicle in the same spot all morning before someone called 911 and emergency workers found Baze dead in the vehicle later in the day.
By Marty McGee
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Michael Baze, the leading jockey at Arlington Park last summer and a member of the famed Baze riding family of the western United States, was found dead Tuesday afternoon in his vehicle in the stable area of Churchill Downs. He was 24.
A Louisville Metro Police spokeswoman, Alicia Smiley, said Tuesday evening that police have undertaken an investigation into the death. Churchill spokesman John Asher said track officials were not at liberty to comment on the death.
Bobby Kelly, whom Baze had recently hired as his agent, said he tried to call and text Baze all morning but got no response. Kelly said backstretch workers informed him that Baze apparently had been in his vehicle in the same spot all morning before someone called 911 and emergency workers found Baze dead in the vehicle later in the day.
