Horseman Bob Baffert’s suspension from Churchill Downs has actually been extended through completion of the 2024 fiscal year, ruling him out for the 150th Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Inc. revealed Monday afternoon.
Baffert’s two-year suspension was set to end Monday, following the conclusion of the 2023 Spring Meet, which was relocated to Ellis Park. The Hall of Popularity fitness instructor was at first suspended after Medina Spirit, who crossed the goal initially in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, stopped working a post-race drug test and was later on disqualified.
Medina Spirit later on passed away after an exercise in late 2021.
Churchill Downs Inc. mentioned “continued issues concerning the danger to the security and stability of racing he positions to CDI-owned racetracks” in extending Baffert’s suspension.
” Mr. Baffert continues to market an incorrect story worrying the stopped working drug test of Medina Spirit at the 147 th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in accordance with Kentucky law and policies,” Churchill Downs stated in a declaration. “Prior to that race, Mr. Baffert signed an arrangement with Churchill Downs which mentioned that he was accountable for comprehending the guidelines of racing in Kentucky which he would follow them. The outcomes of the tests plainly reveal that he did not comply, and his continuous conduct exposes his ongoing neglect for the guidelines and policies that guarantee horse and jockey security, in addition to the stability and fairness of the races carried out at our centers.
” A fitness instructor who hesitates to accept duty for several drug test failures in our highest-profile races can not be depended prevent future misbehavior. Mr. Baffert will stay suspended from getting in horses at all racetracks owned by CDI through 2024. After such time, we will re-evaluate his status.”
Baffert, whose suit versus Churchill Downs was dismissed in May, later on reacted to the judgment, stating he was “at a loss to comprehend Churchill Downs’ most current action to suspend me,” according to tweets from The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil “From the minute I found out of Medina Spirit’s post-race favorable– now more than 2 years earlier– I devoted to learn how it might have happened. An evaluation of our treatment records revealed we utilized a topical lotion called Otomax for a skin infection. I asked that the post-race sample be evaluated to figure out if we might clinically verify that the favorable originated from the lotion.
” The screening so validated. I have actually been open, truthful and upcoming. I have actually acknowledged that our treatment resulted in the favorable and I have completely I notified the Kentucky Racing Commission. I think the guidelines allow using Otomax and I have actually asked the Racing Commission to examine those guidelines and use them to the realities.”
The post-race blood test revealed betamethasone in Medina Spirit’s system. Betamethasone skin treatments– utilized to deal with itching, inflamed and inflamed skin– are legal as healing help, however are prohibited on and leading up to race day due to the drug’s performance-enhancement capacity.
In Baffert’s go back to the Triple Crown path, his National Treasure won the 2023 Preakness Stakes. The success was his 8th in the Preakness, setting a brand-new record for a fitness instructor in the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown, hours after another 3-year-old horse Baffert trained broke his left front leg while racing at Pimlico Race Course and was euthanized on the track.
Churchill Downs has likewise had its own difficulty with horse casualties this year. The track’s Spring Meet transferred to Ellis Park in Henderson after 12 horses passed away in a one-month period at the Louisville-based racetrack Fitness Instructor Saffie Joseph, Jr. was suspended from Churchill Downs on Might 4 after 2 of his horses, Moms and dads Pride and Going after Artie, passed away at the track. While CDI stayed “deeply worried” about the horse deaths, Joseph was renewed on June 30 after an examination by the KHRC, consisting of necropsy reports of Moms And Dads Pride and Chasing After Artie, were finished.
Reach Louisville football, females’s basketball and baseball beat author Alexis Cubit at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at @Alexis_Cubit.
