A New Venture for a Veteran Horseman
After a distinguished career working alongside some of the most renowned names in the Thoroughbred industry, longtime horseman Chris Baker embarked on a new chapter. In 2024, Baker launched his advisory firm—Baker Thoroughbred Advisory—to provide expert advice on breeding, racing and sales to clients.
Baker brings a wealth of experience to the clients of Baker Thoroughbred Advisory. Having served as COO of Three Chimneys Farm from 2013 to 2024; General Manager of WinStar Farm from 2011 to 2013; General Manager of Spring Hill Farm in Virginia from 2000 to 2011; and Farm Manager at Vinery Farm from 1999 to 2000, all preceded by a decade on the racetrack culminating in a 2 year stint as a public trainer after working as Assistant Trainer to Hall of Famers Richard Mandella and Neil Drysdale - Baker has been intimately involved with some of the most prestigious operations in the industry. Now, he is eager to share his knowledge and expertise with clients.
“The idea to start an advisory firm has been percolating with me for a long time—several years,” shares Baker. “I’ve loved managing big farms and big operations, but the time commitment required to do that successfully doesn’t leave a lot of time for other things. At this career stage, I’m looking to use the experience I’ve gained over the past 40 years in a way that gives me more latitude with my time.”
Full Circle
In today’s competitive racing and breeding industry, getting the right advice
can be crucial for achieving success. Baker believes in a holistic approach to
the industry and to client relationships. Focusing on building long-term partnerships,
he strives to work with clients who share his passion for the horse and for the sport
and recognize the value of a comprehensive strategy.
“I don’t see myself as a bloodstock agent. I
don’t want to be one. Much of that is transaction-based,”
says Baker.
“Working with people that recognize the value of longterm, comprehensive approach to setting and reaching goals is the type of client I want to work with,” adds Baker. “In a perfect world, it is someone that is full circle; they breed, race, buy and sell. Helping clients in all aspects of the industry is my goal. Whether it is filling a small-scale gap here or there, or in a broader, more comprehensive advisory role.
“The people who succeed in this business have a program,” he says. “They have their breeding operation in order with the right bloodstock raised the right way. They place their horses with the best pre-trainer to help them get the right foundation for future success. Trainer selection is the next critical step in helping horses develop to their full potential and must be done thoughtfully. After racing, the horses that have displayed enough talent will return to the breeding program. Others will move to the market, or are repurposed to other disciplines. They won’t all make the grade but a full-circle responsibility to the horse is important. These are the kind of people I would like to help.”
Baker gained valuable insights into the intricacies of racing working for
the late Edward P. Evans at his Spring Hill Farm. Under Evans’ guidance,
Baker was involved in every facet of the industry, from breeding and foaling
to training and racing. The more than 11 years at Spring Hill Farm allowed
Baker to develop a deep understanding of the factors that contribute to a program’s success.
“When I went to work for Mr. Evans, he bred primarily to race,” says Baker. “He sold some to
offset operating expenses but we bred the mares to the appropriate stallions to produce athletes.
The yearlings we kept all went to Aiken, South Carolina, to be started. I went there monthly for
six or seven months to watch them train and get feedback from Ron Stevens prior to selecting trainers.
“In racing management, I spoke with the trainers weekly to see how healthy and fit the horses were, and when and where they were going to race,” he adds. “At the end of their racing careers, the knowledge of the individual and their family gained through detailed management of every aspect of their development and performance allows you to mate them appropriately to complement their traits. Mr. Evans’ operation was 360 degrees. It was cradle to grave. We mated them. We raised them. We saw them pre-train, train, and race, and then they came back into the fold as broodmares or stallion prospects, or on to something else. We worked in all aspects of the business.”
Experience by design
Baker understood early on that a solid foundation of
experience was essential to building a successful career
in the Thoroughbred industry. He knew to truly excel that
he needed to learn from the best and brightest horsemen
in the business.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from
the University of Maryland, Baker went to work as a groom
at the famed Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, KY for three
years. He worked with trainers abroad, spending two years
at the racetrack in Australia, New Zealand and England.
Back home in the U.S., Baker served as an assistant trainer
to Hall of Famers Neil Drysdale and Richard Mandella in
Southern California, where he worked with numerous Grade
1 winners and champions. Baker was also a public trainer
for two years on the Kentucky, Florida, and Louisiana circuit.
“If you look at the whole history of my experience,
it started with my dad growing up, where horses
were a hobby. It was very much a mom-and-pop operation,
but it was enough to spark an interest in me and a
connection to the horse, specifically the Thoroughbred
horse,” says Baker.
Recipe For Success
For those seeking success in the Thoroughbred industry, a well-structured
and executed breeding program is paramount. Baker explains, “You’ve got to have the right mares,
and you’ve got to breed them to the right stallions. You must have best practices in place for the animal
husbandry aspect of managing the mares and their offspring to give your investment in bloodstock the best opportunity to succeed...
...It’s an extremely competitive and challenging business with an infinite number of variables. Having the right practices in place, the right structure and strategy in place to achieve your goals, controlling as many of these variables as possible gives you the best chance to succeed.”
Throughout his career, Baker has demonstrated a deep-rooted passion for horses.
His early experiences on the racetrack instilled in him a profound respect for the equine athlete
and a commitment to horsemanship. Baker’s philosophy centers on prioritizing the well-being and
potential of each horse, recognizing that this approach leads to competitive excellence and financial rewards.
“You can’t be in this industry and not know what the racehorse is called on to do.
Working at the racetrack, I learned what it takes to succeed in competition at the highest level.
I was fortunate to work for Neil Drysdale and Richard Mandella. Through those early experiences,
I was very horse-centric, and horsemanship-centric in learning those things. What I found out
working with those two Hall of Famers, is that you put the horse first because that is good business”.
“When you take care of the horse and win the right races,
financial success is going to come,” he adds. “You must have a horse-focused,
race results motivation first for it to make financial sense. If you come at it saying,
‘We’re going to make money’, you’re likely setting yourself up for disappointment.”
Baker’s successful career has spanned decades and is marked by countless victories at the
top level of the industry. By prioritizing the horse, establishing clear goals, and cultivating
a full-circle program, Chris Baker offers industry stakeholders a valuable roadmap for achieving
success in the challenging yet rewarding Thoroughbred industry. Baker’s accomplished career is a
testament to the power of passion, hard work, and a horse-centric approach.
“Not everyone has hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in a Thoroughbred operation,” Baker says. “But they can benefit from the experience I’ve had to help them on their level and scale make decisions that put themselves in a position to succeed”.
