Churchill Downs Rescinds Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert's Suspension
Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert is back to competing at Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville.
The shocking announcement came after Baffert had issued an apology earlier Friday admitting responsibility for the now-deceased Medina Spirit failing a drug test after winning the 147th Kentucky Derby in May of 2021. After his Derby win, Medina tested positive for betamethasone, which is an anti-inflammatory steroid medication. Baffert denied ever purposely doping his famed horse, but rather said that the banned medication unknowingly came from a topical ointment to treat a skin condition.
Regardless, horse racing's biggest name trainer was issued a two-year suspension that was extended in 2023 due to Baffert's public comments in which he chastised his punishment. That is, until Baffert came clean out of nowhere and owned up to what he did in yesterday's statement.
"I accept responsibility for Medina Spirit’s positive test in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. 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. 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," Baffert's statement read.
CHURCHILL DOWNS ACCEPTS BOB BAFFERT'S APOLOGY
That apology was apparently good enough for Churchill Downs, as the home of the Kentucky Derby accepted Baffert's admittance to wrongdoing and have decided to fully reinstate him immediately.
"All parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter to a close and focus on the future. 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," Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said.
There's no doubt that Baffert paid a price for the Medina Spirit situation. With the horse's 2021 Derby disqualification, Baffert was denied a record-breaking 7th Kentucky Derby victory as well as tarnished his reputation and brought questions regarding some of his previous horses.
Despite being suspended from Churchill Downs, Baffert was allowed to have his other horses compete in other races - including when his colt National Treasure won last year's Preakness.
SHOULD BOB BAFFERT BE ALLOWED BACK TO RACING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS? TWEET US AT @OutKick and @TheGunzShow