Kentucky Derby: a chronology of the saga of Bob Baffert with Churchill Downs

The 151st operation of Kentucky derby The famous Churchill Downs Racetrack will take place in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday May 3, and the return for the first time in four years will be the horse coach of the renowned temple, Bob Baffert.

Baffled, one of the most prosperous coaches in the history of sport, returns this year after missing the first stage of the Triple Crown for three consecutive years – a suspension which began with its seventh record victory of the race in 2021 which was then stripped up due to a missed drug testing test.

Slack, one of only two coaches to have won the coveted Triple crown On twice, he became considered by certain outsets in the horse racing community after the fallout from the victory of Kentucky Derby of Medina Spirit in 2021.

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May 2021 – Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby

Baffert won his seventh Kentucky Derby victory on May 1, 2021, when Medina Spirit, the 3-year-old colt belonging to Zedan Racing Stables, won the first stage of the triple crown by half a lecture. The victory at Churchill Downs broke the previously divided record between Baffert and his other coach of the Ben Jones renown.

Medin Spirit positive tests; Hung

A few days after being declared winner, it was announced on May 9, 2021 that Medina Spirit had failed a post-space drug testing test after being tested positive for an excessive quantity of steroid betamethasone. Churchill Downs immediately suspended, who denied any reprehensible act.

“We understand that the post-course blood sample of the winner of Kentucky Derby Medina indicated a violation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky equine drug protocols,” the circuit said in a statement at the time. “To be clear, if the results are confirmed, the results of Medina Spirit in Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared winner.”

Buffete was also prohibited by the New York Racing Association, pending the investigation in Kentucky.

June 2021 – Long -term suspended spray

Medina Spirit, mounted by Jockey John Velazquez, # 8, crosses the finish line to win the Kentucky Derby Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 1, 2021. (Sam Mallon / Getty Images)

Churchill Downs announced on June 2, 2021 that Baffert would be suspended to enter a horse on the famous horse track for the next two years after a second post-post-sample sample failed a drug screening test.

February 2022 – Medina Spirit stripped of the derby title

On February 21, 2022, Churchill Downs officially recognized Mandaloun as the winner of the 147th Kentucky Derby race after the Kentucky horse racing commission announced that Medina’s mind had violated the racing rules. Baffert was suspended and sentenced to a fine by the Commission.

Horse formed Bob Buffer was not allowed to run in Kentucky Derby, rules

March 2022 – Baffert continues Churchill Downs

Buffete filed a complaint with the American district court of the western district of Kentucky against Churchill Downs, the CEO of William C. Carstanjen and the chairman of the board of directors R. Alex Rankin on March 1, 2022 to try to overthrow the suspension, arguing that the famous horse coach was not allowed to carry out a regular procedure.

“The facts are clear, and Churchill Downs knows them but refuses to recognize them,” said a bachelor lawyer at the time. “Churchill Downs knows that the post-course test report occurred following the use of an harmless ointment known as Otomax. They know that it was prescribed by the veterinarian dealing with Medina Spirit and properly and in a timely time at the database the day it was distributed.

May 2023 – Case against Churchill Downs rejected

Coach Bob Baffert holds the trophy after Medina Spirit won 147th Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, May 1, 2021. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

A federal judge rejected the case against the Kentucky racecourse on May 25, 2023, after a previous attempt by the legal team to harvest the ban in February was refused. The decision came a few days after a The horse formed in Baffert won the Preakness Stakes, An eighth record victory for the stroke.

“Our actions aimed at suspending Mr. Baffer after the confirmed positive of Medina’s mind for a prohibited substance on the day of the race, coupled with his vast history of drug violations, was made in the best interest in the protection of the Integrity of Casse (SIC),” said Churchill Downs in a press release according to the decision.

“More than ever, participants and operators of this industry must assume individually and collectively the responsibility to take all reasonable measures to protect our equine and human athletes and reject any practice that endangers this mission.”

Churchill Downs also said that he reserved the right to extend the suspension of slack, a decision that would come at the end of his two -year ban.

July 2023 – The extended spray suspension

The suspension of slack was extended until 2024, announced Churchill Downs on July 3.

“Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false story about the failure of the Medina drug testing at 147th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky horse racing committee in accordance with Kentucky law and regulations,” the racetrack said in a press release.

“A coach who is not willing to accept the responsibility of several drug testing failures in our most publicized races, we cannot trust to avoid future misconduct. Mr. Bafferte will remain suspended to enter the horses to all the folds belonging to CDI until 2024. After this moment, we reassess his status.”

January 2024 – Continuous slap

Coach Bob Baffert looks after winning the Sir Barton Stakes before the 148th Preakness Stakes on the Baltimore Pimlico race race on May 20, 2023. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

Baffert announced on social networks earlier this year that he had asked his lawyers to reject an appeal linked to the disqualification of Medina Spirit in 2021.

“The owner of Zedan Racing, Amr Zedan, and I have decided that it is better to concentrate positively on the present and the future that our great sport offers,” he wrote in a press release published at X. “We thank the Khrc and Churchill Downs for listening and considering our point of view and we are grateful for the changes and the clarity that Hisa brings to our sport.”

April 2024 – Horse trained in ineligible slack for the 150th Kentucky Derby

This view shows the saddle cloth of the horse’s horse coach Bob, in the morning training sessions for the preakness challenges at the Baltimore Pimlico Race Race on May 12, 2021. (Rob Carr / Getty images)

A judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeal rejected a Zedan call who asked for an emergency hearing which would allow the winner of the Arkansas derby to appear at Kentucky Derby on May 4.

July 2024 – Baffert approaches Churchill Downs Lifts Suspension

Buffet published a declaration appropriating the positive test in 2021 and accepting the disciplinary measures of Churchill Downs that followed.

“I am responsible for any substance found in the horses I train, and I paid a very high price with a three -year suspension and the disqualification of the performance of Medina Spirit,” said his declaration in part. “I understand and appreciate that Churchill Downs and Kentucky Horse Racing Commission have taken measures to enforce the rules which, according to them, were necessary to protect the safety and integrity of horse racing and the reputation of Kentucky Derby.”

After taking possession of her actions in the event, Churchill Downs announced that she had canceled the suspension of slack.

“We are convinced that Mr. Baffet has taken responsibility for his actions, completed a substantial penalty and is committed to complying in full compliance with the rules and regulations in the future,” the statement said. “All the parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter closer and to focus on the future. Mr. Baffert is welcome to return to one of the CDI races, including our flagship folding of Churchill Downs, and we wish him and his connections good luck in their future competitive efforts.”

May 2025 – Baffert returns

The winner of the Wood Rodriguez Memorial and Citizen Bull, 2 -year champion of last year – the two horses trained in Baffert – will participate in the Kentucky Derby of this year with the legend himself.

“This is one of those things where I am just tired of talking about it,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. “It was difficult for three years and I put it behind me.”