North Queensland racing community mourns larrikin horseman

By Jordan Gerrans

A master horseman with a juvenile galloper and a larrikin who loved a laugh.

That is how North Queensland conditioner Bub Baker is being remembered by his family and friends within the racing industry following his death on Saturday.

He was 75 years of age.

Born Milton Baker, the trainer was known affectionately as Bub and spent more than four decades preparing his team in Townsville.

Bub hails from the famous Baker racing clan in Queensland with his brother Wayne training out of Roma, another brother Don – or “Ducky” as he is known - preparing his gallopers at Toowoomba, while sister Carmel trains at Charleville.

Bub was one of 11 children with a large number of the extended family having an involvement with racing. 

Blondie's Secret was the last horse Bub took to the races in April of 2023, with the mare running second at Home Hill.

Bub was a jockey before he turned his hand to training.

Bub’s son Michael described horses as his late father's lifelong passion.

“He shared it with so many people including his late wife Loraine, his friends and the many people who ultimately ended up as owners of the horses he trained and avid racing fans,” Michael said.

“Bub was a man of many talents - not only was he an excellent horseman and rider, but he could also shoe a horse, drive a semi, weld a fence and catch a fish.

“His enthusiastic storytelling, his self-deprecating humour and loyalty ensured that he became a true friend to many in racing as well as during his employment at Cluden Park, Beef City Toowoomba and the Townsville City Council.”

Cluden Park trainer Joanna Hassett worked closely with Bub and described him as ‘a larger-than-life character’.

“The track has been a lot quieter in the last 18 months since he hadn’t been training and racing has lost another old larrikin who could make the early mornings a bit more bearable by making me smile,” Hassett said.

“He could get two year old's up and going like no other that I’ve met. He had a great eye for yearlings and that translated to his success with youngsters.”

Bub enjoyed his greatest success as a trainer with horses such as One Bar None and Apache Pup who combined to win 21 races.

Michael Charge associated with Bub in his former role as Townsville Turf Club CEO as well as chatting to him post-race after a winner when he became the voice of North and Central Queensland gallops for Sky Racing.

“Bub was a truly unique racing character, a true horseman in every sense of the word,” Charge said.

“By his own admission, he was as far from an academic as you could get, but his knowledge, love and passion for the thoroughbred was second to none. 

“Whilst Bub could be stubborn and tough, he was also fiercely loyal, hardworking and determined.

“His racing success especially with young or troubled horses was renowned and he was never one to lose the training or education battle with any thoroughbred.”

Bub battled ill health in the last few years of his training tenure but still kept a small team in work with horses such as Blondie's Secret and It’s A Ploy.

“He always had a couple of handy horses,” younger brother Ducky said.

“He always was good with them.”

Former top young galloper Apache Pup handed Bub a feature Townsville Dollars crown about 15 years ago.

“I’ve won Pallarendas and a couple of Great Northerns before and Apache Pup was a pretty good horse,” Bub was quoted as saying in July of 2022.

As three of Bub’s siblings train at Roma, Toowoomba and Charleville – he was the outlier in NQ.

As younger brother Ducky details, Bub moved north to the Northern Territory for a period of time before settling in Townsville with his wife and two children Michael and Nicole.

Bub was the third oldest of the 11 siblings.

“He was always good to me as an older brother,” Ducky said.

“We grew up a bit later than him because he was older and gone away working but he was always good to us.

“He enjoyed his life. I didn’t get up to Townsville much but I did get up there a few times to spend a few weeks with him.”

Like Bub, Hassett hails from a famous racing family in regional Queensland and the veteran horseman trusted her to look after his horses when he would go away for the annual sales.

“It wasn’t ever a walk in the park as his horses were well-known for being very highly strung and bouncing off the walls with energy,” Hassett said.

“Every time he dropped one off to me to look after he would wink and say ‘now remember, you have all care and no responsibility’ which always made me feel better.

“He could tell a story like no other.”

Charge said Bub was a ‘true gentleman’

“Bub will be sadly missed in racing circles not only in Townsville and North Queensland, but also around the state,” Charge said.

“He was a scholar of our great game of racing.”

Bub’s life will be celebrated by his family at a private memorial.

“We hope that those who knew Bub and would like to honour him will raise a glass in his memory for a life well-lived,” Michael said.

Bub is survived by his two children Michael and Nicole and four grandchildren Danny, Louise, Margaret and Phoebe.

Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Baker family.