Churchill Downs suspended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert for two years Wednesday after a second test confirmed Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby with a banned race-day substance.
The punishment prohibits Baffert and any trainer his stables employ from applying for stall occupancy or entering a horse in a competition at a Churchill Downs-owned racetrack.
"CDI has consistently advocated for strict medication regulations so that we can confidently ensure that horses are fit to race and the races are conducted fairly," said Bill Carstanjen, the CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated, in a statement.
"Reckless practices and substance violations that jeopardize the safety of our equine and human athletes or compromise the integrity of our sport are not acceptable, and as a company, we must take measures to demonstrate that they will not be tolerated."
Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory that helps treat osteoarthritis in horses, after galloping to victory May 1. The results revealed the colt had 21 picograms of the steroid in his system, twice the amount the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission allows.
The University of California, Davis conducted testing on a second blood sample that also came back positive.
In the aftermath of the first test, Baffert insisted he didn't inject Medina Spirit or knowingly commit any type of violation. However, the 68-year-old has trained dozens of horses that have failed drug tests throughout his career, leaving many in the horseracing community reluctant to believe him.
"Mr. Baffert's record of testing failures threatens public confidence in thoroughbred racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby," Carstanjen stated. "Given these repeated failures over the last year, including the increasingly extraordinary explanations, we firmly believe that asserting our rights to impose these measures is our duty and responsibility."
Medina Spirit now faces a retroactive disqualification from the Kentucky Derby, which would result in Mandaloun being declared the new champion. Mandaloun bettors aren't expected to be paid or refunded even if the result is officially overturned, according to ESPN.
