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The 150th moving of nan Kentucky Derby will return spot astatine nan celebrated Churchill Downs racetrack successful Louisville connected Saturday, May 4. A notable absence from nan first limb of nan Triple Crown will beryllium immoderate Bob Baffert-trained horse.
For nan 3rd consecutive year, Baffert will not beryllium astatine nan Kentucky Derby – a suspension that began pinch his record-breaking seventh triumph astatine nan title successful 2021 that was later stripped because of a grounded supplier test.
Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer who is conscionable 1 of 2 trainers to ever triumph nan coveted Triple Crown connected 2 occasions, has go considered by immoderate an outcast successful nan equine racing organization pursuing nan fallout of Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby triumph successful 2021.
Bob Baffert talks to nan media during greeting workouts successful mentation for nan 145th Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville connected May 2, 2019. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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May 2021 – Medina Spirit wins nan Kentucky Derby
Baffert secured his seventh Kentucky Derby triumph connected May 1, 2021, erstwhile Medina Spirit, nan 3-year-old colt owned by Zedan Racing Stables, won nan first limb of nan Triple Crown by a half-length. The triumph astatine Churchill Downs collapsed nan grounds antecedently shared betwixt Baffert and chap Hall of Fame trainer Ben Jones.
Medin Spirit tests positive; Baffert suspended
Days aft being declared nan winner, it was announced connected May 9, 2021, that Medina Spirit had grounded a postrace supplier trial by testing affirmative for an excessive magnitude of nan steroid betamethasone. Churchill Downs instantly suspended Baffert, who denied immoderate wrongdoing.
"It is our knowing that Kentucky Derby victor Medina Spirit’s post-race humor sample indicated a usurpation of nan Commonwealth of Kentucky’s equine medicine protocols," nan racetrack said successful a connection astatine nan time. "To beryllium clear, if nan findings are upheld, Medina Spirit’s results successful nan Kentucky Derby will beryllium invalidated and Mandaloun will beryllium declared nan winner."
Baffert was besides later barred by nan New York Racing Association, pending nan investigation successful Kentucky.
June 2021 – Baffert suspended agelong term
Medina Spirit, ridden by jockey John Velazquez (8), crosses nan decorativeness statement to triumph nan 147th Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville connected May 1, 2021. (Sam Mallon/Getty Images)
Churchill Downs announced connected June 2, 2021, that Baffert would beryllium suspended from entering a equine astatine nan famed equine way for nan adjacent 2 years aft a 2nd postrace sample grounded a supplier test.
February 2022 – Medina Spirit stripped of Derby title
On Feb. 21, 2022, Churchill Downs officially recognized Mandaloun arsenic nan victor of nan 147th moving of nan Kentucky Derby aft nan Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced that Medina Spirit was successful usurpation of racing rules. Baffert was suspended and fined by nan commission.
BOB BAFFERT-TRAINED HORSE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN IN KENTUCKY DERBY, JUDGE RULES
March 2022 – Baffert sues Churchill Downs
Baffert revenge a suit successful nan U.S. District Court for nan Western District of Kentucky against Churchill Downs, CEO William C. Carstanjen, and committee Chair R. Alex Rankin connected March 1, 2022, successful an effort to overturn nan suspension, arguing that nan famed equine trainer was not fixed nan correct to owed process.
"The facts are clear, and Churchill Downs knows them but refuses to admit them," an lawyer for Baffert said astatine nan time. "Churchill Downs knows nan post-race trial study occurred arsenic a consequence of nan usage of a harmless ointment known arsenic Otomax. They cognize it was prescribed by Medina Spirit's treating veterinarian and decently and timely reported to nan information slope nan time it was dispensed. They cognize nary norm was violated, and nan ointment could ne'er person enhanced Medina Spirit's performance. To support different is absurd."
May 2023 – Case against Churchill Downs dismissed
Trainer Bob Baffert holds nan trophy aft Medina Spirit won nan 147th Kentucky Derby astatine Churchill Downs successful Louisville connected May 1, 2021. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
A national judge dismissed nan lawsuit against nan Kentucky racetrack connected May 25, 2023, aft a erstwhile effort by Baffert’s ineligible squad to assistance nan prohibition successful February was denied. The determination came conscionable days aft a Baffert-trained equine won nan Preakness Stakes, a record-breaking eighth triumph successful nan title for Baffert.
"Our actions to suspend Mr. Baffert pursuing Medina’s Spirit’s confirmed affirmative for a prohibited race-day substance, coupled pinch his extended history of supplier violations, was done successful nan champion liking of protecting nan integrity of horseracing (sic)," Churchill Downs said successful a connection pursuing nan ruling.
"Now much than ever, participants and operators successful this manufacture must individually and collectively presume work to return each reasonable measurement to protect our equine and quality athletes and cull immoderate believe that jeopardizes that mission."
Churchill Downs besides said it reserved nan correct to widen Baffert’s suspension, a determination that would travel astatine nan extremity of his two-year ban.
July 2023 – Baffert’s suspension extended
Baffert’s suspension was extended done 2024, Churchill Downs announced connected July 3.
"Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a mendacious communicative concerning nan grounded supplier trial of Medina Spirit astatine nan 147th Kentucky Derby from which his equine was disqualified by nan Kentucky Horse Racing Commission successful accordance pinch Kentucky rule and regulations," nan racetrack said successful a statement.
"A trainer who is unwilling to judge work for aggregate supplier trial failures successful our highest-profile races cannot beryllium trusted to debar early misconduct. Mr. Baffert will stay suspended from entering horses astatine each racetracks owned by CDI done 2024. After specified time, we will re-evaluate his status."
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January 2024 – Baffert moves on
Trainer Bob Baffert looks connected aft winning nan Sir Barton Stakes up of nan 148th Preakness Stakes astatine Pimlico Race Course successful Baltimore connected May 20, 2023. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Baffert announced connected societal media earlier this twelvemonth that he instructed his attorneys to disregard an entreaty related to Medina Spirit’s disqualification successful 2021.
"Zedan Racing owner, Amr Zedan, and I person decided that it is champion to positively attraction connected nan coming and early that our awesome athletics offers," he wrote successful a connection posted to X. "We convey nan KHRC and Churchill Downs for listening and considering our constituent of position and we are grateful for nan changes and clarity that HISA brings to our sport."
April 2024 – Baffert-trained equine ineligible for 150th Kentucky Derby
This position shows nan saddle cloth of trainer Bob Baffert's equine during greeting workouts for nan Preakness Stakes astatine Pimlico Race Course successful Baltimore connected May 12, 2021. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
A Kentucky appeals tribunal judge denied an entreaty from Zedan that sought an emergency alleviation proceeding that would let Arkansas Derby victor Muth to tally successful nan Kentucky Derby connected May 4.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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