Dale Baird

MARTINSVILLE, Ill., — Dale Baird, 72, of New Cumberland, W.Va., and formerly of Martinsville, died at approximately 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, after a multiple car crash, in Hancock County, Indiana. For more than 40 years, Dale was an owner/trainer of thoroughbred racehorses, at Mountaineer Racetrack (formerly, Waterford Park), in Chester, W.Va. He was born April 17, 1935, in rural Martinsville, to J.I. Baird and Edna Baird.He is survived by his children, Perry Baird and wife Debra of Martinsville, Bart Baird of New Cumberland; and Janet Wood and husband Scott of West Terre Haute, Ind.; four grandchildren, Justin Baird and wife Amy, Anthony Baird and wife Amber, Haley Baird, and Casey Baird; his mother, Edna Baird; and ten brothers and sisters, Carolyn Miller, Dean Baird, Pat Price, Don Baird, Charles Baird, John Baird, Joe Baird, Peggy Snyder, Bill Baird, and Lynn Denham; many nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends in the horse racing industry. He was preceded in death by his father, J.I. Baird; and his brother, James.He was the all-time winningest thoroughbred trainer in North America, with career victories of 9,445. He was the first trainer to win 300 races in a year (305 in 1973), a feat he accomplished eight times. In 1996, he became the first trainer in racing history to win 7,000 races. In 1999, he was the first trainer to saddle his 8,000th winner. And, in 2004, he reached 9,000 career wins, as a trainer. In 2001, Dale was inducted into the National Horsemen’s Benevolence and Protective Association Hall of Fame; and he received a 2004 Special Eclipse Award from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Achievements have also found their way into the "Guinness Book of World Records."Services will be held at Greenwell Funeral Home, 30 N. Washington St., in Martinsville, on Saturday, at 10 a.m. CST, with the Rev. Rick Swan officiating. Burial will be in Baird Cemetery, south of Martinsville. Visitation will be Friday, from 3 to 8 p.m., and one hour before services Saturday. Details are pending for a memorial service to be held in West Virginia, in January 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the American Cancer Society or to the church or charity of your choice.