by Chris Lomon

The victory at the half-mile oval 21 months ago was more meaningful than the milestone it represented.

As the starter car picked up speed on Sept. 6, 2021 at Van Wert, the racetrack that shares the same name with the Ohio city it’s located in, Jacob Baird was hoping this would be the moment he could earn his first driving win.

He would have been happy to make it a reality with any horse, but the pacer he was in rein to would make it that much more special.

Pappy’s Legacy, a bay son of Bigrisk, bred and owned at the time by his father, Darrell Baird, is named after the younger Baird’s grandfather.

The bay gelding was sent to the front by Jacob with the duo taking their five rivals through an opening panel in :32.3 over a track listed as ‘good.’ A half-length on top at the half, their lead expanded to 1 ½ lengths at the stretch call.

That advantage widened easily in the final strides as the pair came home 3 ½ lengths on top in a time of 2:03.4.

For Jacob, the result was twice as nice.

“That was great,” Jacob said. “There was no better feeling than winning with that horse. To be able to do that in memory of my grandfather and all he has done for myself and our family, it really meant everything. It was a great feeling coming down the lane and knowing we were going to win. To win my first race as a driver with that horse and to see how happy my family was is an amazing memory.”

Another special horse for Jacob comes in the form of Union Station, a 7-year-old bay son of Somebeachsomewhere.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, the gelding has been a standout since his arrival in Jacob’s barn last August.

“Union Station, I own him myself and I got my first training win with him, so he’s up there for me,” Jacob said. “He’s just an old, classy horse. I bought him with my own money and he’s my pet. Any time I win with him is a good feeling.”

Jacob, who was given his first pari-mutuel drive by trainer Nick Clegg, has been a staple at the racetrack and barns since he was 5. He started helping his father jog and train horses when he was 13.

“I was hooked from a very young age,” Jacob said. “It’s easy to fall in love with horses and the sport. I think I knew from the time I was in the first grade that this was what I wanted to do.”

A graduate of Vanlue High School, Jacob was a three sport multi-letter winner for the Wildcats. Horse racing, however, was always first in his eyes.

He drove in his first official race in 2020, the one and only start of that year. He posted a 1-1-4 mark from 17 drives the following campaign and recorded four wins in 2022.

Last year, Jacob, who launched the training side of his career, was also named the recipient of the 2022 Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Terry Holton Youth Award.

The honor is awarded to a youth between the ages of 13 and 19 who has actively participated in harness racing during 2022 as a driver, trainer, groom, breeder, race office/publicity assistant, track maintenance crew, or has provided outstanding service to harness racing.

Now in its 20th year, the award is named for Terry Holton, a 2005 inductee into the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Holton of Newark, OH, was the winner of more than 1,700 races in his career. He overcame several life-changing obstacles, including overcoming pancreatic cancer.

“It certainly meant a lot to be recognized,” Jacob said. “I’m extremely grateful to have received that honor.”

Jacob, who has already established several personal-best numbers in 2023, is keeping his focus on the short term while navigating the challenges that come with being a new face in the sport.

“I really appreciate the opportunities that come my way and I do my best to make the most of them,” Jacob said. “There are a lot of people in the business who are established, so I’m just trying to fit in the best I can. For me, every day is a new day, and I find a way to stay positive. I don’t get too down when things aren’t going my way and I don’t get carried away when things are going well. I don’t like to look into the future too much. I prefer to stay in the moment.”

Having veteran horse people to lean on has been a boon to Jacob’s development.

He takes something away from each of those conversations.

“When I’m racing, I try to talk to as many people as I can, ask people what they think, what they would do in a certain situation,” he said. “If I’m at Buffalo, I ask [decorated driver] Jim Morrill a lot of questions. I’ll do the same with Keith Kash Jr. and Nick Clegg too. I ask them a lot and they always give great advice.”

Jacob, who runs his own stable, also appreciates the daily education he receives from the four horses he currently trains.

“They are all different and each one has specific needs,” he said. “There is a lot of problem-solving that goes on in this business, so you need to pay attention to every little detail with each horse and come up with a plan that suits them best. What I want is to have a consistent stable, whatever that number is, and keep building on what is already there.”

The ultimate goal for Jacob is to hold a Little Brown Jug trophy aloft one day.

For now, he will maintain the day-to-day approach to his craft, while also spending as much time as possible with family outside the demands of the racing world.

“It’s always been about family, just hanging out with them and catching up with what is going on in their lives,” Jacob said. “I’ll play video games every now and again, but there isn’t ever really much time for that. Family is first and foremost for me.”

Their continuous support continues to drive Jacob forward in his career.

“It is everything for me,” he said. “Every time I win with one of my parents’ horses, it makes it even more special. I was lucky enough to get that win with Pappy’s Legacy for my grandfather, and that was just an amazing moment for all of us.”

And while it might not be apparent to those who watch a race Jacob is driving in, there is a certain element found on his red and white racing colors that perfectly illustrate what family means to the young horseman.

The symbols were designed for a specific reason.

“Those three diamonds represent the three generations of racing in our family,” Jacob said. “I wanted to have those included because that’s what this sport has always been about for me.”