Friends of 24-year-old jockey shocked by his death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Some of those closest to jockey Michael Baze say they are shocked and didn’t see his death coming.

The 24-year-old jockey who was found dead in his vehicle Tuesday in the Churchill Downs stable area.

Peter Artieda, a fellow jockey and best man in Baze’s wedding, was planning to see Baze Monday but says Baze canceled their plans after oversleeping.

Artieda says they “were supposed to actually hang out Monday during the day” and that Baze was supposed to ride at Indiana Downs Monday night.

Artieda says he saw Baze last week in the Churchill Downs jockey’s room and that his friend from Glendora, Calif., “never said or showed any stresses.”

Louisville police say there no report has been filed and that they are waiting for autopsy results from the Jefferson County Deputy corner.