Churchill Downs reinstates trainer Bob Baffert from three-year suspension
It took three years to resolve, but finally the country’s most famous trainer can once again run in the world’s most famous race.
The standoff that gave a lot of attorneys a lot of billable hours ended Friday when Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert accepted responsibility for Medina Spirit‘s positive test after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby, and Churchill Downs rescinded his suspension. The six-time Derby winner will be eligible to return to the race next year.
“I accept responsibility for Medina Spirit’s positive test in the 2021 Kentucky Derby,” Baffert said in a statement on social media. “I am responsible for any substance found in the horses that I train, and I have paid a very steep price with a three-year suspension and the disqualification of Medina Spirit’s performance.
“I understand and appreciate that Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission took steps to enforce the rules that they believed were necessary to protect the safety and integrity of horse racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby. My family and I want to put this behind us and get back to doing what we love to do without anymore distraction or negativity. I very much look forward to returning to Churchill Downs and getting back to the Winner’s Circle.”
After 83 years, Sunday is the last day of racing at Golden Gate Fields. The track will be missed for its inclusiveness and place in California racing history.
Churchill Downs followed minutes later with its own statement.
“We are satisfied that Mr. Baffert has taken responsibility for his actions, completed a substantial penalty and is committed to running in full compliance with the rules and regulations going forward,” chief executive Bill Carstanjen said. “All parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter to a close and focus on the future. Mr. Baffert is welcome to return to any of CDI’s racetracks, including our flagship Churchill Downs Racetrack, and we wish him and his connections good luck in their future competitive endeavors.”
Medina Spirit was among the more lightly regarded of Baffert’s 3-year-olds when he won the Derby. Baffert was tipped off about a week later that there was a positive medication test for betamethasone, a drug that is legal but not on race day, and flew to Louisville. He held a fiery impromptu news conference in which he said that he did not give the colt betamethasone. But a few days later it was discovered that the medication was given to the colt in ointment for a rash on his hind quarters. Baffert then went on a public relations tour proclaiming his innocence.
The colt subsequently was disqualified and Baffert was suspended for 90 days by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Three weeks later, Churchill Downs rocked the racing world by saying it was suspending Baffert for two years from all its tracks, which made him ineligible to run in the Kentucky Derby, and then tacked on another year because it didn’t feel he was contrite enough.
Lawsuits were filed, with Baffert unsuccessful in trying to overturn the suspension or the disqualification.
He accepted his KHRC suspension the next year and had to move all his horses to other trainers as the signage was taken down from his barn at Santa Anita. He returned in July 2022 still proclaiming his innocence.
The first two years of the Churchill suspension he moved his Kentucky Derby horses to other trainers, most notably Tim Yakteen, a former assistant. This year, however, his loyal group of owners decided not to move any of the horses and sat out the Derby.
Among those was Tom Ryan, who heads a consortium of high-value owners. Ryan, in the midst of a double-digit delay at Detroit Airport on the way to Del Mar for Saturday’s opening day, said he did not know the news was coming.
“I was hoping it was coming but did not know,” Ryan said. “We’ve all been waiting for this outcome and I’m excited to arrive at Del Mar and get our 2-year-olds underway and racing. I’m glad it has been resolved, which gives us plenty to look forward to. I’m really looking forward to this season and this will help all of our partners get invested so we can target the Classic races.”
No singular cause was found for last year’s high death toll before the Kentucky Derby, but the hope is that technology can mitigate future problems.
Ryan’s ownership group will send unraced Getaway Car, named for a Taylor Swift song, in a maiden special race at Del Mar on Saturday. The group paid $700,000 for the colt, who is trained by Baffert.
While it seemed as if Baffert suffered all the damage in the three-year standoff, Churchill Downs also had to make concessions. It took itself out of contention for next year’s Breeders’ Cup because it could not guarantee that it would allow Baffert to race. Del Mar will get the Breeders’ Cup two years in a row.
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