Bob Baffert May Be Banned For Two Years From New York Trails


Horse trainer Bob Baffert should be banned from New York State racetracks for two years for engaging in conduct harmful to thoroughbred racing, according to a recommendation issued Wednesday by a trial official.

Baffert is serving a 90-day suspension by Kentucky regulators after Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first at last year’s Kentucky Derby but was later disqualified, failed a post-race drug test.

Baffert has had to hand over his horses to other trainers and will not participate in any of the Triple Crown races. However, it will remain in existence as two of its top 3-year-olds are among the favourites: Messier and Taiba will be saddled up by Tim Yakteen, a former Baffert assistant who is now on his own.

The New York Racing Association had tried to block Baffert after regulators in three states found that his horses had violated drug regulations for 14 months and at seven different races.

In January, Judge O. Peter Sherwood, a retired New York State Supreme Court Judge, heard testimony from Baffert as well as state race officials. His report determined that Baffert “damaged the reputation and integrity of sport, as well as the public’s perception of the legitimacy of sport.”

Sherwood wrote: “The NYRA has reached the reasonable conclusion that Baffert will not condone reckless practices, excessive conduct, and substance violations, all of which jeopardize the integrity of the sport. I conclude that the NYRA reasonably decided that he should be removed from racetracks for an extended period of time.”

The proposal now goes to a three-member panel that can accept, reject or change the two-year ban. If approved as-is, Baffert will be banned from racing at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Raceway, and Saratoga Raceway until July 2024.

“Peter Sherwood’s advice is almost exactly the same as the NYRA attorney’s request,” said Baffert attorney Clark Brewster. “It will ultimately be challenged until we can find an impartial, independent decision maker who doesn’t rubber-stamp the NYRA attorney’s demands.”

The medication found in Medina Spirit’s system was betamethasone, a corticosteroid that is injected into the joints to reduce pain and swelling. Baffert and his lawyers colt injection denied and said the drug is applied topically to treat the skin rash on the back end of Medina Spirit.

Medina Spirit is the third horse to be disqualified after finishing first in Derby’s 147-year history. Colt owner Amr Zedan has lost a $1.8 million first-place check awarded to the owner of second-rank Mandaloun, Juddmonte, the racing and breeding business founded by Saudi Arabian Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, who died last year. .

The decision also erased Baffert’s record-breaking seventh Kentucky Derby victory. In addition, Derby host Churchill Downs also banned Baffert from competing in next year’s race.

The advice puts a new stain on a doping-prone sport and jeopardizes Baffert’s reputation and future in the sport. Baffert is a thoroughbred who won the Triple Crown with his horses in 2015 and 2018. horse race most recognizable personality.

In his advice, Sherwood acknowledged that the sport was unstable with the public and regulators’ efforts to fix this.

“In NYRA’s judgment, the use of forceful action in response to these violations will serve to reassure racing fans of the integrity of the sport and NYRA’s commitment to protecting its horses, jockeys and the betting public,” he wrote. “NYRA’s actions will also reassure fans and punters that the industry can and will self-regulate, take drastic action when doping is found, and protect horses from mistreatment.”



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