Medina Spirit could lose Ky. Derby win; track bans Baffert
John Velazquez riding Medina Spirit leads Florent Geroux on Mandaloun and Flavien Prat riding Hot Rod Charlie to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson
Jockey John Velazquez, left, watches as trainer Bob Baffert holds up the winner s trophy after they victory with Medina Spirit in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson
John Velazquez riding Medina Spirit throws a rose after his victory in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Jeff Roberson
Medina Spirit could lose Ky. Derby win; track bans Baffert
GARY B. GRAVES, AP Sports Writer
May 9, 2021
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1of6John Velazquez riding Medina Spirit leads Florent Geroux on Mandaloun and Flavien Prat riding Hot Rod Charlie to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky.Jeff Roberson/APShow MoreShow Less
2of6Jockey John Velazquez, left, watches as trainer Bob Baffert holds up the winner s trophy after they victory with Medina Spirit in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2021, in Louisville, Ky.Jeff Roberson/APShow MoreShow Less
Medina Spirit could lose Kentucky Derby win; track bans Baffert after failed postrace drug test
Trainer Bob Baffert denied all wrongdoing and promised to be fully transparent with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission during its investigation. Author: Associated Press Updated: 4:44 PM CDT May 9, 2021
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Medina Spirit’s victory in the Kentucky Derby is in serious jeopardy because of a failed postrace drug test, one that led Churchill Downs to suspend Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Sunday in the latest scandal to plague the sport.
Baffert denied all wrongdoing and promised to be fully transparent with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission during its investigation. Baffert’s barn received word Saturday that Medina Spirit had tested positive for an excessive amount of the steroid betamethasone, which is sometimes used to treat pain and inflammation in horses.
“To be clear, if the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit’s results in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared the winner,” Churchill Downs officials said in a statement shortly after Baffert held a hastily planned morning news conference outside his barn to announce and respond to the allegations.
The track said failure to comply with the rules and medication protocols jeopardizes the safety of horses and jockeys, the sport’s integrity and the Derby’s reputation.
“Churchill Downs will not tolerate it,” the statement read. “Given the seriousness of the alleged offense, Churchill Downs will immediately suspend Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, from entering any horses at Churchill Downs Racetrack.”
Medina Spirit failed postrace drug test, could lose Kentucky Derby victory
Trainer Bob Baffert has been suspended by Churchill Downs after the Derby winning horse tested positive for an excessive amount of a steroid.
Associated Press
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John Velazquez, riding Medina Spirit, leads Florent Geroux on Mandaloun and Flavien Prat riding Hot Rod Charlie to win the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jeff Roberson/Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Medina Spirit’s victory in the Kentucky Derby is in serious jeopardy because of a failed postrace drug test, one that led Churchill Downs to suspend Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert immediately on Sunday in the latest scandal to plague the sport.