Jockey Michael Baze died of accidental overdose, coroner reports

Michael Baze, the jockey who was found dead in his vehicle at Churchill Downs last month, died of an accidental overdose of cocaine and a prescription pain medication, the Jefferson County, Ky., coroner's office said Friday.

Deputy coroner Jim Wesley said the 24-year-old Glendora resident died of multiple substance intoxication, with significant amounts of cocaine and oxymorphone in his system.

Baze had been scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on a charge of first-degree possession of cocaine days after his May 10 death. He was arrested near downtown Louisville in November after a detective found a small bag of cocaine in his pants pocket, according to the arrest warrant.

In his nine-year horse racing career, Baze won 918 of nearly 7,000 starts and earned more than $32 million.

ALSO:

Jesus Castanon has the ride of his life

Dubawi Heights wins Gamely Stakes by a head

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Michael Baze. Credit: Associated Press / Benoit Photo