Special Eclipse Award goes to Dale Baird

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - West Virginia-based trainer

 Dale Baird has been awarded the Special Eclipse Award, the National

Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Friday.

A full-time trainer of thoroughbreds for more than 40 years, Baird is

the all- time winningest trainer with 9,021 winners. The 69-year-old

conditioner registered his 9,000th victory last year on November 5.

Headquartered at Mountaineer Park in Chester, West Virginia, Baird owns

 many of the horses he trains and has led the country in wins by an

owner 17 times. He was the first trainer to post 300 victories in 1973.

The 34th annual Eclipse Award ceremony will be held in Beverly

Hills, California, on January 24.