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USA Today
04-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kentucky Derby 2025: How did Bob Baffert's horse do?
Kentucky Derby 2025: How did Bob Baffert's horse do? Bob Baffert will have to wait at least another year before he can claim a seventh Kentucky Derby and officially crown himself the King of Churchill Downs. In Saturday's 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, Baffert's entry Citizen Bull set the pace early off the rail but ran out of gas late to finish a disappointing 15th. Baffert returned to Churchill Downs for the first time since 2021. That was the year he thought he had captured a record-setting seventh Kentucky Derby victory with Medina Spirit, only for a post-race test to show a banned substance that resulted in the horse's disqualification. The infamous trainer was banned from the sport's most famous track for three years before he was allowed to return in 2025 with entries Citizen Bull and Rodriguez — the latter of which was scratched earlier in the week. Per USA Today: The horse tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone in a post-race drug test, becoming the highest-profile horse doping case within the sport. It was also not the first failed drug test involving a Baffert-trained horse for various reasons. Medina Spirit's violation was later confirmed after a second positive test. Medina Spirit was disqualified and Churchill Downs, Incorporated handed Baffert a two-year suspension. It was just the second winner in the Kentucky Derby's history to be tarnished by a drug-related disqualification. Baffert vehemently denied he gave Medina Spirit the steroid and alleged contamination or tampering. He filed an appeal with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a lawsuit against Churchill Downs in February 2022 hoping to overturn the suspension. But Churchill Downs officials ultimately extended Baffert's suspension because of his continued efforts to discredit the positive test. That all made for an awkward return with Baffert audibly booed during the livestream of last Saturday's post position draw. Churchill Downs avoided an even more awkward moment with Baffert in the Winner's Circle. At least, for now.
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Bob Baffert's Kentucky Derby return: A timeline of the saga that kept the famed trainer from Churchill Downs
The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby will take place at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 3, and returning for the first time in four years will be Hall of Fame horse trainer, Bob Baffert. Baffert, one of the most successful trainers in the history of the sport, returns this year after having missed the first leg of the Triple Crown for three consecutive years – a suspension that began with his record-breaking seventh victory at the race in 2021 that was later stripped because of a failed drug test. Baffert, one of only two trainers to ever win the coveted Triple Crown on two occasions, became considered by some an outcast in the horse racing community following the fallout of Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby victory in 2021. Baffert secured his seventh Kentucky Derby win on May 1, 2021, when Medina Spirit, the 3-year-old colt owned by Zedan Racing Stables, won the first leg of the Triple Crown by a half-length. The victory at Churchill Downs broke the record previously shared between Baffert and fellow Hall of Fame trainer Ben Jones. Days after being declared the winner, it was announced on May 9, 2021, that Medina Spirit had failed a postrace drug test after testing positive for an excessive amount of the steroid betamethasone. Churchill Downs immediately suspended Baffert, who denied any wrongdoing. "It is our understanding that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's post-race blood sample indicated a violation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky's equine medication protocols," the racetrack said in a statement at the time. "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." Baffert was also later barred by the New York Racing Association, pending the investigation in Kentucky. Churchill Downs announced on June 2, 2021 that Baffert would be suspended from entering a horse at the famed horse track for the next two years after a second postrace sample failed a drug test. On Feb. 21, 2022, Churchill Downs officially recognized Mandaloun as the winner of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby after the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced that Medina Spirit was in violation of racing rules. Baffert was suspended and fined by the commission. Baffert filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky against Churchill Downs, CEO William C. Carstanjen and board Chair R. Alex Rankin on March 1, 2022 in an attempt to overturn the suspension, arguing that the famed horse trainer was not given the right to due process. "The facts are clear, and Churchill Downs knows them but refuses to acknowledge them," an attorney for Baffert said at the time. "Churchill Downs knows the post-race test report occurred as a result of the use of a harmless ointment known as Otomax. They know it was prescribed by Medina Spirit's treating veterinarian and properly and timely reported to the data bank the day it was dispensed. They know no rule was violated, and the ointment could never have enhanced Medina Spirit's performance. To maintain otherwise is absurd." A federal judge dismissed the case against the Kentucky racetrack on May 25, 2023, after a previous attempt by Baffert's legal team to lift the ban in February was denied. The decision came just days after a Baffert-trained horse won the Preakness Stakes, a record-breaking eighth victory in the race for Baffert. "Our actions to suspend Mr. Baffert following Medina's Spirit's confirmed positive for a prohibited race-day substance, coupled with his extensive history of drug violations, was done in the best interest of protecting the integrity of horseracing (sic)," Churchill Downs said in a statement following the ruling. "Now more than ever, participants and operators in this industry must individually and collectively assume responsibility to take every reasonable measure to protect our equine and human athletes and reject any practice that jeopardizes that mission." Churchill Downs also said it reserved the right to extend Baffert's suspension, a decision that would come at the end of his two-year ban. Baffert's suspension was extended through 2024, Churchill Downs announced on July 3. "Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false narrative concerning the failed drug test of Medina Spirit at the 147th Kentucky Derby from which his horse was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in accordance with Kentucky law and regulations," the racetrack said in a statement. "A trainer who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple drug test failures in our highest-profile races cannot be trusted to avoid future misconduct. Mr. Baffert will remain suspended from entering horses at all racetracks owned by CDI through 2024. After such time, we will re-evaluate his status." Baffert announced on social media earlier this year that he had instructed his attorneys to dismiss an appeal related to Medina Spirit's disqualification in 2021. "Zedan Racing owner, Amr Zedan, and I have decided that it is best to positively focus on the present and future that our great sport offers," he wrote in a statement posted to X. "We thank the KHRC and Churchill Downs for listening and considering our point of view and we are grateful for the changes and clarity that HISA brings to our sport." A Kentucky appeals court judge denied an appeal from Zedan that sought an emergency relief hearing that would allow Arkansas Derby winner Muth to run in the Kentucky Derby on May 4. Baffert released a statement taking ownership of the positive test in 2021 and accepting Churchill Downs' disciplinary actions that followed. "I am responsible for any substance found in the horses that I train, and I have paid a very steep price with a three-year suspension and the disqualification of Medina Spirit's performance," his statement read in part. "I understand and appreciate that Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission took steps to enforce the rules that they believed were necessary to protect the safety and integrity of horse racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby." After taking ownership of his actions in the ordeal, Churchill Downs announced that it had rescinded Baffert's suspension. "We are satisfied that Mr. Baffert has taken responsibility for his actions, completed a substantial penalty and is committed to running in full compliance with the rules and regulations going forward," the statement read. "All parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter to a close and focus on the future. Mr. Baffert is welcome to return to any of CDI's racetracks, including our flagship Churchill Downs Racetrack, and we wish him and his connections good luck in their future competitive endeavors." Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, last year's 2-year-old champion – both Baffert-trained horses – will be competing in this year's Kentucky Derby with the legend himself present. "It's one of those things where I'm just tired of talking about it," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's been a tough three years and I've put that behind me." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Bob Baffert returns to Kentucky Derby after three-year exile - 'It's like I never left'
The six-time winner of the world famous horse race made his first appearance at the meeting since being disqualified by the track after Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance One of the world's most famous racehorse trainers ended a three year exile from the Kentucky Derby on Friday. Bob Baffert, the joint most successful trainer in Kentucky Derby history with six successes, is challenging for the race for the first time since Medina Spirit finished first past the post in the 2021 running of the US Classic. Eight days later Baffert revealed the colt had tested positive for a substance, which came from an ointment but which must not be present in a horse's system on raceday. Medina Spirit was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and runner-up Mandaloun was awarded victory. Baffert was then banned from having runners at all Churchill Downs-owned racecourses which prevented him from having any runners in the Kentucky Derby until this year's edition which will be run on Saturday, May 3. The California trainer had an appeal against disqualification rejected and then fought a lengthy battle through the courts, which he eventually abandoned. With the ban having subsequently been lifted, the 72-year-old has returned to Churchill Downs with two challengers, Rodriguez, winner of the Wood Memorial, and Citizen Bull, who captured last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. 'It's nice to be back here, back to the old barn,' he told media. 'This is like the Masters, it lasts a week. Everything has to go so well. So far all the horses got here in great shape and we're happy. 'It feels great to be back. Coming into the stable gate everybody was nice to me and welcomed me back. It's like I never left.' Baffert is tied with Ben Jones with most wins in the Kentucky Derby, his six including two Triple Crown winners in Justify and American Pharoah. Asked if he had any hard feelings over his exile, he said: 'We never denied that there was a positive. We were hoping it would be dropped to a class D [category offence] when we knew what it was. 'I don't feel that way. In racing as a trainer, I'd be mad every week, every time we got beat. I never look back and turn the page. I accepted it and we move on.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials welcome new gaming facility
Elected officials, the head of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and leaders from Churchill Downs welcomed the soft opening of the county's new gaming facility Monday afternoon, calling it an economic development engine and a benefit to the state's horse racing industry. Officials gathered at the Owensboro Racing & Gaming stage Monday afternoon to praise the new gaming complex, before turning the facility over for an evening of gaming, with proceeds going to nonprofit groups. The first bets were placed by Daviess County Commissioner Janie Marksberry and by Jon Rabinowitz, chairman of the Horse Racing Commission. The gaming center opens to the public on Wednesday. Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., said seeing the new facility was 'humbling.' 'I hope it becomes a jewel for your community, an integral part of your community and a real asset to all of you,' Carstanjen said. The facility cost $100 million. 'That's the investment we wanted to make in this community, because we thought it was worth it and we thought it would pay off — not just for our company but more importantly for you,' Carstanjen said. Regarding the horse racing industry, Carstanjen said, 'A portion of every wager that's made here goes back into the horse industry, back into the purses and the horses.' Marksberry, who is the Eastern District commissioner for Fiscal Court, said, 'This has been a highly anticipated project for our community, and I'm so excited to finally see it come to fruition.' The gaming center was initially planned for the former Towne Square Mall property, but Churchill Downs moved the project to Wrights Landing Road, outside city limits, after the Owensboro City Commission tabled a Churchill Downs request to allow smoking in part of the gaming complex in 2023. 'I know many folks are excited for this new level of entertainment, and I'm glad we were chosen,' Marksberry said. The complex does have a smoking section that is separate from the nonsmoking area. 'This facility is a prime example of an economic development opportunity that are available to a community when government stands out of the way and does not hinder the private sector,' Marksberry said. 'I'm so glad the county and Daviess County Fiscal Court could accommodate the needs of this business and contribute to its success.' Rep. Suzanne Miles, an Owensboro Republican and member of the House's GOP leadership team, said the county's location between Ellis Park in Henderson and Churchill Downs could help the facility. 'We're in a sweet spot, so to speak, between two horse racing tracks,' Miles said. 'The location right here puts us in a great opportunity for many people to travel throughout our area. 'Obviously, we're on the Bourbon Trail, too, so (there are) many opportunities' to visit the community, Miles said. 'It gives you more reasons to come here and be welcomed here.' Sen. Gary Boswell, an Owensboro Republican, said, 'We're excited that we have 220-some new employees working here. Those are going to be very important jobs.' 'Owensboro Racing & Gaming will put Owensboro on the map as a world-class destination, to experience Kentucky's signature horse racing industry,' Boswell said. Rabinowitz, chairman of the state Horse Racing Commission, said the horse racing and gaming industry generated $13.2 billion in wagering in 2024. 'The revenue generated ... is making a real difference in the Commonwealth,' Rabinowitz said. Revenue from the Owensboro facility will help fund things such as equine research to college scholarships, Rabinowitz said. Other dollars will go to other horse racing funds, to the state's general fund, and to support 'problem gaming initiatives,' he said. Of the facility Rabinowitz said, 'This is a great day for Owensboro, a great day for Kentucky and a great day for the future of racing and gaming industry.'
