Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who is Bob Baffert?
Born Robert A. Baffert, Bob Baffert is an American horse owner and horse trainer. His name certainly rings a bell in the horse racing world as he is one of the most successful racehorse trainers.
Growing up on a ranch, Bob was no stranger to animals. This fondness for animals and life on the farm made Bob fall in love with horses and horse racing at ten while watching his father train Quarter Horses.
Bob’s love for horseracing led him to become a jockey who won his first professional race at 17. By 20, he had already established himself as a highly accomplished horse trainer. He is one of the most famous names in horse racing, having won seven Kentucky Derbies, seven Preakness Stakes, three Belmont Stakes, and three Kentucky Oaks throughout his career.
Baffert also trained horses that won him fifteen American Classic Races, fifteen Breeders’ Cup races, four Dubai World Cups, and two Pegasus World Cups. It is no surprise that he was also inducted as a Hall of Fame Horse Trainer.
Below are some facts you should know about Bob Baffert.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Robert A. Baffert |
| Popular Name: | Bob Baffert |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | Jan. 13, 1953 |
| Age: | 70 years |
| Parents: | Ellie Baffert (Mother), Bill Baffert Sr. (Father) |
| Siblings: | N/A |
| Birth Place: | Nogales, Arizona, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | N/A |
| Education: | University of Arizona |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Sherry Baffert (divorced), Jill Baffert (m. 2002) |
| Children: | Savannah Baffert, Bode Baffert, Forest Baffert, Taylor Baffert, Canyon Baffert |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | $35 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Businessman, Professional racehorse trainer |
| Height: | 5ft7 (1.71 m) |
| Weight: | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
Early life and Career Information
Bob Baffert was born in Nogales, Arizona, to Ellie Baffert and Bill Baffert Sr. on 13th January 1953. His family raised cattle and chicken on their ranch. Bob first dabbled into horse racing as a jockey before making a name for himself as a professional horse racing trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona’s Racetrack Industry Program with a Bachelor of Science degree.
He got married to his first wife, Sherry, with whom he had four kids after his education. The couple went their separate ways after some years, and Bob remarried. He and his second wife, Jill, have a son together.
His first winning horse, “Flipper Star,” won at Flipper Park in 1979. He moved to California in the 1980s and began working at Los Alamitos Race Course. There, he began full-time Thoroughbred training in 1991. His first major break came in 1992 when he won the Breeders’ Cup race with “Thirty Slews.”
In 1996, Baffert was shot to the limelight in the world of classical races when “Cavonnier,” the three-year-old colt he trained, placed second in the Kentucky Derby. The year 1997 was good for Baffert as he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and placed second in the Belmont Stakes with the gray colt “Silver Charm.” His success continued in 1998, where he won numerous races and the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with “Real Quiet.” As a result, he became the first trainer in history to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in consecutive years.
However, Bob’s winning streak was put on hold until 2001, when he won the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes with “Point Given.” He finished third in the Kentucky Derby in the same year with “Congaree.” “War Emblem” helped Baffert secure the Derby for the third time in 2002. The colt further went on to win the Preakness Stakes, giving the trainer a chance to win the Triple Crown for the third time.
He didn’t win another major race until the Preakness Steak in 2010 with “Lookin At Lucky.” Bob struck gold with “American Pharoah,” which won the Triple Crown in 2015. “Justify,” the 2018 Triple Crown winner, and “Authentic,” the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner, were also trained by Baffert. In 2021, with “Medina Spirit,” Baffert won the Kentucky Derby for the seventh time.
Despite his multiple awards and recognitions, Bob’s illustrious career has been tainted by his horses failing more than 30 drug tests. Baffert also has a propensity to avoid punishment for positive test results. One of his horses tested positive for scopolamine in 2018, but the case was dismissed after inspectors determined that the horse’s diet had been contaminated by accident. In the year 2020, a similar story unfolded.
Bob Baffert’s Net Worth
Although starting out as a jockey, most of Bob’s wealth was gotten from his career as a horse trainer. It took him 12 years to amass $1 million in race prizes as a jockey. However, he earned $1 million as a horse trainer in a single race after winning the Breeder’s Cup with “Thirty Slews” in 1992.
Bob has carted away millions of dollars from winning various American classic races, International Stakes, and Breeder’s Cups. He also makes money from sponsorships. Burger King, for example, once paid Baffert $200,000 to have a mascot stand by him at the Belmont Stakes.
As of 2023, Bob’s net worth is estimated to be $35 million.
Lessons From the Life of Bob Baffert.
Go After What You Love
Bob had no intention of becoming a racehorse trainer. He began his career as a rider, but he shifted to racehorse training due to weight difficulties. When he struggled with his weight, he did not wallow in self-pity; instead, Bob devised a plan to keep doing what he liked.
Most people would give up at the first sign of failure, but not Bob. Rather, he found a way to continue doing what he loved through horse race training.
Don’t Give Up
Bob witnessed breaks in his winning streaks, but that did not stop him from training more racehorses and entering competitions. Though you might not have hit the big win you’ve always wanted in your career, keep your chin up, shoulders high, and embark on everything with a winning mentality. Your big break is definitely coming!
