The world of horse racing is in mourning. Earlier this week, trainer John Shirreffs died in his sleep. He was 80.
If it wasn’t for Bob Baffert, Shirreffs might be considered the best trainer in horse racing’s West Coast circuit. A United States Marine who served in Vietnam, he began his horse racing career in 1978 and accumulated 596 wins and more than $58 million in purse money.
Shirreffs was still at the top of his game. Baeza finished third in last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a Pennsylvania Derby victory.