Memorial Fund Established For Jockey Michael Baze

The family of jockey Michael Baze is setting up a memorial fund to help pay for funeral expenses for the . Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at any Bank of America, according to a spokesperson for Baze’s mother Terri Gibson.

Any additional money raised will go to the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund. The cause is especially close to the family as Baze had two horseracing accidents that left him with serious injuries, said his wife Kelly Baze. Michael Baze ultimately recovered from both accidents.

Hollywood Park is hosting a public memorial Thursday, June 2 for Baze. The tribute will be held immediately after Thursday’s races at the Sunset Room of Hollywood Park, 1050 South Prairie Avenue, Inglewood, Calif.

This is the second memorial for Baze. His family hosted a memorial in his native Washington state last week.

Hollywood Park is the scene of where Baze had one of his best riding years. Baze was the leading rider at the Spring/Summer meet that year, and at 20,  he was the youngest jockey to achieve that accomplishment since Bill Shoemaker won at age 19 in 1950.

The cause of Baze’s death is still unknown, as an autopsy was inconclusive, pending a toxicology report. According to reports, Baze had struggled with alcoholism and depression, and faced a the week he died.

Baze moved to Glendora in 2007 to stay close to the southern California riding circuit. Last summer, Baze moved to Arlington Park in Chicago to pursue more horse racing opportunities