From the start, Chris Baker sought to change into the most effective all-around horseman he might be within the Thoroughbred business. He wished to grasp not solely breeding and gross sales but additionally totally perceive the racetrack so he may comprehend what was requested of the athlete on the recreation’s highest stage. In his 40-plus years of working within the business, from the coast of California to the hills of New Zealand, Baker encapsulates his expertise into his personal enterprise enterprise, Baker Thoroughbred Advisory. After spending the final 11 years because the COO of Three Chimneys Farm, Baker welcomes the chance to additional share his equine experience with the world by his advisory agency.

Baker speaks with BloodHorse about his new enterprise, his tenure at Three Chimneys Farm, and the way his multitude of experiences within the business have made him the horseman he’s right now.

BloodHorse: Are you able to discuss your new enterprise? What are the completely different companies you’ll provide to shoppers at Baker Thoroughbred Advisory?

Chris Baker: I am providing recommendation in all elements I’ve expertise in—breeding, racing, and gross sales. People who I can see being are those that are new to the enterprise and wish to construct a program or established individuals who wish to enhance their program to get higher outcomes. Whether or not they wish to purchase a farm and set it up for themselves or board at a farm in addition to purchase the suitable mares, breeding these mares to the suitable stallions, get the most effective practices in place to lift their horses to fulfill their objectives. Whether or not that is as a industrial breeder or a breed-to-race operation after which observe that by to the suitable pre-trainers and proper trainers, geared to show pedigrees and practices on the racetrack and return these confirmed performers to their bloodstock base that simply will get higher and higher over time. All very client-centric and client-specific based mostly on the wants of the consumer in regard to their objectives, the dimensions they’re snug with, and their funds. I can help with the budgeting course of.

I will present them with recommendation based mostly on the experiences I’ve had, which is 40 years within the business at a excessive stage. I used to be concerned within the coaching and racing a part of the business for 10 to 12 years after which spent the final 25-plus years concerned in farm administration. So I might like to make use of that have to assist information and advise folks to succeed in their objectives.

BH: What made you determine to take that leap to start out your personal enterprise?

CB: I am at a profession stage and a life stage the place I very a lot wish to hold working and do significant issues with good folks within the enterprise and function on the excessive stage as I’ve. However I wish to do it in a manner the place I’ve a little bit extra freedom in using my time. That work that I’ve loved over time that usually hasn’t felt like work, managing 50 to 60 workers, 1000’s of horses, and acres of land, there is a big-time dedication to managing a big breeding farm. I simply wish to have extra management of my time at this stage in my profession. 

BH: You have been at Three Chimneys for a very long time (11 years). What are you able to say reflecting in your tenure at Three Chimneys? What are a few of your achievements there that you just’re most happy with?

CB: Three Chimneys was an excellent 11 years. We have been capable of accomplish so many nice issues with the crew there, Gun Runner being the top of it. Being concerned with him all over his profession as a champion racehorse and now a high sire is clearly the high-water mark for that, however we additionally had plenty of grade 1 winners and champion-caliber horses like Carina Mia, Guarana, Risky, and now homebred Gun Pilot getting his grade 1 this yr. Marvel Wheel was a champion 2-year-old we bred and bought as a yearling. Early Voting was a basic winner from Gun Runner’s first crop.

There are numerous, many issues to replicate on there, however I feel most likely what was most satisfying was working with the Torrealba household to mould and form Three Chimneys from what had been a service mannequin for the Clays to an fairness mannequin for the Torrealbas. Being part of that course of was very difficult however very rewarding to get proper. Being a part of that profitable transformation was extremely satisfying. And all these horses I named have been the results of that profitable transformation.

BH: And now you should have Three Chimneys as your first consumer. What does that imply to you?

CB: I am very joyful to have Three Chimneys as my first consumer. Taking over an advisory position for them reveals how our relationship has modified however stays excellent and constructive. I respect their help in my new profession path as a lot as I did once I was their full-time worker.

BH: You have had a mess of various experiences within the horse racing business in number of capacities. How have these experiences formed the horseman that you’re right now?

CB: Again to the start, as a younger man born and raised in Washington, D.C., I had a grandfather who had a beef cattle farm in Southern Maryland. My father had an excellent curiosity in horses that developed into an curiosity in Thoroughbreds which is one thing I used to be uncovered to at 8 or 9 years outdated. So Thoroughbreds turned one thing of curiosity to me early in life. Once I graduated from the College of Maryland in 1986 I went to work at Lane’s Finish Farm for 3 years, from ’86 to ’89. After which I went abroad to New Zealand, Australia, and England, all working in racing there. Once I got here again to the States in ’90-91 I used to be very racing-focused and spent six years in Southern California on the racetrack. I spent a yr as an assistant to Neil Drysdale after which 4 years as an assistant to Richard Mandella earlier than coaching alone and transferring out to Kentucky in ’97.

I used to be very lucky on the racetrack. I used to be in Drysdale’s barn when he had A.P. Indy as a 2-year-old when he broke his maiden earlier than he went on to win the Hollywood Futurity after which went on to his 3-year-old championship yr. I went to work for Mandella at a time once we had Kotashaan and Telephone Chatter within the barn. We simply had a protracted listing of good horses throughout my time there—from Dare and Go, Sandpit, Siphon, Gentleman, Soul of the Matter, and Afternoon Deelites.

It was large expertise for me. I very deliberately sought out the racetrack as a result of I felt to be as full as potential as a horseman I wanted to grasp the breeding facet, perceive gross sales, and perceive racing. I felt being snug in all elements and being literate in all elements of the business was one of the simplest ways for me to problem myself and change into the most effective horseman I might be.

BH: Because you spent a good period of time on the racetrack, what finally drew you again to the breeding facet of the enterprise?

CB: Coaching alone was going OK, however then I met my spouse and shortly after we had a daughter. I did not suppose it was one of the simplest ways for me to help a household at that stage economically, in addition to the nomadic nature of it. So in 1999 I returned to farm administration—first at Vinery Stud when it was acquired by Tom Simon. Then I bought recruited to Ned Evans’ Spring Hill operation in Virginia and I used to be there till the top of 2011. Sadly, he handed away (in 2010) and we needed to have that dispersal. From there, I spent two years as common supervisor at WinStar earlier than going to Three Chimneys for 11 years.

My expertise on the racetrack made me a significantly better farm supervisor and significantly better at serving to breeders attain their objectives as a result of I had a greater understanding of the athlete and what was requested of that athlete on the excessive stage on the racetrack. Mr. Evans was primarily breed to race however we did promote half the yearling crop yearly. That have was nice for me as a result of the breeding and racing have been so interconnected there. We stood stallions in Kentucky. It was a 360-degree enterprise mannequin within the business.

For me, beginning at Lane’s Finish and seeing the enterprise straight out of school at a excessive stage, I simply at all times tried to place myself with people who have been profitable that I may be taught from and change into a greater horseman alongside the best way.

Each principal I’ve labored for within the enterprise, from my father to Richard Mandella to Mr. Evans to Kenny Troutt to Mr. Torrealba, has been an excellent alternative for me to be taught—to adapt, and mould my expertise to assist the principal attain their objectives. What I will do as Thoroughbred Advisory is admittedly an extension of doing that as a sole proprietor.