Murray Baker

Baker played in one List A and seventeen first-class matches for Central Districts and Northern Districts from 1966 to 1975. Baker was part of the team who won the Plunket Shield and played for Huddersfield in England.

Baker started training at Woodville in the 1970s. His first raceday winner was Vizier on October 4 1978, at Otaki. Another early winner was Sir Vigilant in the 1985 New Zealand St. Leger. In 2000 Murray moved his training operation to Cambridge.

He has trained in partnership with:

• his son, Bjorn Baker, who later moved to set up stables of his own at Warwick Farm Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
• Andrew Forsman.

Murray has won many major races on both sides of the Tasman with leading horses such as:

• Bonneval, twice New Zealand Horse of the Year, winner of the 2017 Australian Oaks, Feehan Stakes, New Zealand Oaks and Underwood Stakes
• Dal Cielo, winner of the 2015 Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes
• Dundeel, winner of the Australian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
• Harris Tweed, winner of the 2009 Tulloch Stakes and 2010 The Bart Cummings, placed 2nd in the 2009 AJC Derby and 2010 Caulfield Cup
• Jon Snow, winner of the 2017 Tulloch Stakes and Australian Derby
• Lickety Split, winner of the 2022 Sistema Stakes
• Lion Tamer, winner of the 2010 Victoria Derby.
• Lizzie L’Amour, winner of the 2018 Herbie Dyke Stakes
• Mongolian Khan, winner of the 2015 New Zealand Derby, AJC Derby and Caulfield Cup
• My Eagle Eye, winner of the 1992 Sydney Cup
• Nom Du Jeu, winner of the 2008 AJC Derby
• Quick Thinker, winner of the 2019 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap, 2020 Australian Derby & Tulloch Stakes and 2021 Chairman's Handicap (ATC)
• Staring, winner of the 1991 Desert Gold Stakes, 1992 New Zealand Oaks and 1993 Bluebird Foods Classic
• Stolen Dance, winner of the 2018 Thorndon Mile
• The Phantom, winner of the 1990 Memsie Stakes and Underwood Stakes. Placed 3rd in the 1989 Caulfield Cup and 2nd in the 1990 Melbourne Cup
• The Chosen One, winner of the 2022 Thorndon Mile
• Turn Me Loose, winner of the 2014 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, 2015 Crystal Mile, Seymour Cup, Emirates Stakes and 2016 Futurity Stakes (MRC)
• Vin De Dance, winner of the 2018 New Zealand Derby

Murray retired from training in May 2022. During his career he had accumulated:

• over 1800 New Zealand winners.
• approximately 60 winners in Australia.
• 270 stakes and group race wins (including 48 in Australia).
• 57 Group One wins (including 22 in Australia).
• 9 Derbies and 5 Oaks victories.
• 4 New Zealand training premierships.
• 5 New Zealand trainer of the year awards.

Murray is a member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.