The horse had a great pedigree, why mess with it? Bob Baffert (click here). I thought he had turned a corner. I guess not.
Medina Spirit's reputation is ruined. He won't be a triple crown winner and now there is skepticism as to the quality of his Derby win. Why give these great horses to trainers with poor reputations?
By Jason Frakes
Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday morning Medina Spirit tested positive (click here) for betamethasone after winning the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs, a result that ultimately could lead to the horse’s disqualification.
Baffert disputed the positive test result of 21 picograms, saying Medina Spirit “has never been treated with betamethasone (click here),” which is an anti-inflammatory drug.
According to Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulations, a second positive test – called a “split sample” – is required before a horse can be disqualified.
Baffert said he didn’t know when the result of the split sample will be available. Marc Guilfoil, executive director of the KHRC, said the positive test result was received Friday.
“During the investigation, both the trainer and owner of the horse will be afforded due process and opportunity to appeal,” Guilfoil said. “Therefore, the KHRC will not provide further comment at this time.”...
This is Kentucky and not New Jersey, but, the testing of these horses is always under scrutiny. Either a track and commission believes in fair play or not.
First, it is contrary to the best practices as set forth by the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance, and the model rules of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).
It is also unfair to horsemen. Very unfair.
Background
Recently, I wrote a piece called, “New Jersey drug finding: Bad regulation and poor judgment equals injustice for Monmouth Park trainer.” In that piece, I wrote about a trainer, Glenn Thompson, who won a maiden race last July at Monmouth Park only to be disqualified for a positive test, despite the fact that the split sample results were below the regulatory threshold set by the New Jersey Racing Commission’s (NJRC) own regulation....
