Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Trainer of the Month
for April 2011

Ralph Baldwin

Ralph Baldwin was a quiet horseman in the stable area and on the track, but was one of the top trainer-drivers of his day. He trained and steered such champions as Speedy Scot, Flirth, Scoth Rhythm and Snow Speed.

Ralph Baldwin

                                         Baldwin & Snow Speed
Baldwin was a second-generation horseman, working alongside his father Homer throughout most of the early days of his career. He was elected to the Living Hall of Fame in 1971 and was known throughout his career for his patience and care of developing young horses, and also penned a chapter in the original Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer.

One of his writings in that famed book stated: "..whether your 2-year-old is going to be a top colt, a champion colt, depends to a very great extent--in addition to his natural ability of course, over which trainer has any control--on what you did with him from the time you broke him until he made his first start.
                          Flirth

Baldwin & Flirth
"If you laid the proper foundation," he continued. "and resisted the temptation to do too much with him just because hewas obviously precocious and could do it, you may have made yourself a stake colt right there."

Baldwin retired in 1969 after a stellar career: he won six $100,000 raes, 26 races worth more than $50,000 each, and a Triple Crown (with Speedy Scot in 1963) and two Founders Cups. However, he couldn't stay away from the barn and later returned to train for the famed Arden Homestead Stable. He went on to win the 1973 Hambletonian with the gelding Flirth.

The great horseman passed away in 1982 at age 66.