Ben Baugh wrote about Thoroughbred racing for more than 25 years, and everyone in the industry who encountered his work knew they were reading someone who genuinely loved the game.
A winner of the Raleigh Burroughs Award, Ben’s byline appeared in many of the sport’s leading publications. He came up through the industry the right way — as an intern at Thoroughbred Racing Communications, and through hands-on time at Adena Springs South and Crupi’s New Castle Farm, learning racing not just as a craft but as a way of life.
A graduate of Ashland University in north central Ohio, Ben was a proud member of the National Turf Writers and Association of Broadcasters. He made his home in Reddick, Florida, just north of Ocala — horse country, naturally — where he could often be found at an equestrian sport venue, right where he belonged.
Ben was a contributor to Past The Wire for years. He was a professional and a pleasure, and this sport is smaller without him. He passed away unexpectedly on the night of the Kentucky Derby, May 3, 2026.
He will be missed.
