LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Horse Race Commission denied Bob Baffert's request for a stay on his suspension on Friday through a letter addressed to his attorneys Craig Robinson III and Clark Brewster.

What You Need To Know

  • Bob Baffert's request for a stay on his suspension was denied on Friday

  • Baffert was suspended on Monday after a formal hearing of the Board of Stewards

  • The suspension runs 90 days and keeps Baffert out of this year's Kentucky Derby

  • Baffert has the right to petition for the review of the decision pursuant to KRS 230.320

Following his horse Medina Spirit's failed drug trust and death, the KHRC suspended Baffert on Monday after a formal hearing of the Board of Stewards. The suspension runs 90 days from March 8, 2022 through June 5, 2022, which keeps Baffert out of this year’s Kentucky Derby.

The ruling also means Baffert is not allowed at any horse racing facilities under the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The ruling says horses trainied or owned by Baffert will not be allowed at facilities unless they are transferred to another person that the stewards find acceptable.

Baffert has 30 days to pay all fines and failure to do so could mean a summary suspension of his license.

Spectrum News 1 previously reached out to Craig Robinson III, one of Baffert's attorneys. In a statement he said, "I am very disappointed in the ruling. It runs contrary to the scientifically proven facts in this case and the rules of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. We will be filing an immediate appeal."

That appeal was denied. 

In the letter addressed to Baffert's attorneys, Marc Guilfoil, the KHRC executive director, said, "I do not find good cause to grant a stay of Stewards' Rulings 22-0009 and 22-0010, issued on Monday, February 21, 2022. Consequently, the requests for stays of these Stewards' Rulings are denied."

Guilfoil also stated that Baffert has the right to petition for the review of the decision pursuant to KRS 230.320. 

Medina Spirit is Baffert’s fifth horse known to have failed a drug test in just over a year. Right after the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Baffert said his barn was told that Medina Spirit was found to have 21 picograms of betamethasone — slightly more than double what the trainer said was the allowable amount — in a post-race sample.

Betamethasone is the same drug that was found in the system of Gamine, another Baffert-trained horse who finished third in the Kentucky Oaks in September 2020. Gamine was eventually disqualified from that finish because of that test and Baffert was fined $1,500. Betamethasone is legal under Kentucky racing rules, though it must be cleared 14 days before a horse races.

Baffert's attorneys claim that Medina Spirit's failed drug test result was from a topical ointment and not an injection.

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