LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lawyers for Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert are back in court Friday, hoping a U.S. district judge will allow him to run horses in this year's Kentucky Derby.
The hall-of-fame trainer is currently banned from all Churchill Downs tracks for repeated drug violations, but he's seeking an injunction—arguing his due process rights are being violated and the ban represents an "unreasonable restraint of trade."
What You Need To Know
- Bob Baffert is seeking an injunction from his ban from Churchill Downs, hoping he'll be able to enter horses in Kentucky Derby 149
- Churchill Downs Inc. barred Baffert from entering horses at any of its tracks through mid-2023 after his 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit failing a post-race drug test
- Churchill Downs says allowing Baffert's horses back into the race would be unfair to trainers who follow the rules
- Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory medication. It’s allowed in Kentucky but must clear a horse’s system at least 14 days before a race
Baffert will likely testify in Friday's federal proceedings, according to BloodHorse magazine.
Churchill Downs says allowing Baffert's horses back into the race would be unfair to trainers who follow the rules.
Churchill Downs Inc. barred Baffert from entering horses at any of its tracks through mid-2023. The punishment resulted from his 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit failing a post-race drug test and later being disqualified from that victory in a ruling handed down this year.
Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory medication. It’s allowed in Kentucky but must clear a horse’s system at least 14 days before a race. It’s considered a Class C drug, with a lesser potential to influence performance, but any level of detection on race day is a violation.
Baffert has saddled 34 horses in the Derby — third-most in history — since his first appearance in 1996. Besides his six wins, he’s had three seconds and three thirds.
The trainer said the positive test could be explained by an ointment used to treat a skin rash on Medina Spirit. He said a veterinarian recommended an antifungal cream that was applied daily. Attorneys for Baffert and Medina Spirit’s owner, Amr Zedan, said urine testing conducted by a New York lab confirmed the colt was positive for the anti-inflammatory not via an injection but because of the ointment used.
Kentucky racing officials have said it doesn’t matter how the anti-inflammatory was administered, only that it was present on race day, which isn’t allowed.
The colt died in early December after a workout at Santa Anita. Baffert said it was a heart attack. A necropsy failed to pinpoint the cause.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates from Spectrum News 1.