Bob Baffert Wins Injunction to Race Horses at New York Tracks

Bob Baffert, the legendary thoroughbred bangtail trainer whose reputation is inwards tatters after his KY Derby winning colt Al Madinah Spirit failed a drug test, got a victory in the courtroom Midweek when a federal try blocked a suspension against him handed cut down by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).

In a 28-page decision, US District Judge Carol Bagley Amon said Baffert was denied due outgrowth by the common soldier non-profit-making organization that runs gymnastic horse racing trading operations at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. The tracks themselves are state-owned.

The connection suspended indefinitely Baffert on May 17, 2 years after Medina Spirit lost in the Preakness Stakes. That conclusion kept Baffert from entering the colt inwards the Belmont Stakes, the final leg inwards racing’s Triple Crown, and it also kept him from entering any other Equus caballus inward a run at NYRA’s tracks.

At that time NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke said the system acted to “protect the wholeness of the feature for our fans, the betting public” and other horsemen. Churchill Downs had already suspended Baffert from racing at the Bluegrass State data track after the initial drug psychometric test failed.

NYRA not only when cited the failed Derby try out but rulings past body politic boards inwards Arkansas, California, and Kentucky that found Baffert shamefaced of breaking drug rules. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) found Baffert violated do drugs rules with other horses he raced.

Judge: Baffert’s Interests “Weightier” Than NYRA’s

However, Amon said that NYRA did non cite any New House of York natural law inwards suspending Baffert, nor did NYRA inform Baffert of its action mechanism or give a auditory sense prior to acting. In addition, patch Al Madinah Spirit did break a dose test in the Kentucky Derby, the try noted that the colt passed pre-race tests Free State officials required to running inward the Preakness.

I accordingly conclude that, although NYRA invokes of import interests here, those interests make out non outweigh Baffert’s weightier involvement inwards beingness able to apply his elect profession, especially granted the danger of erroneous deprivation and the likeliness that additional procedures would have been valuable,” the jurist stated inwards her decision.

The cease and desist order means Baffert will follow able-bodied to black market horses during the conform to at Saratoga, which starts Thursday.

While the upstate New York running does non legion a Triple Crown race, it’s considered unity of the country’s cover summer meets and runs several graded stakes races. Some of those races are age-specific, import certain horses that Baffert trains would experience missed come out on the chance to unravel for lucrative purses.

Baffert argued that some owners feature already removed horses from his maintenance and sent them to trainers able-bodied to compete inward New York.

In a statement to the Associated Press, Baffert attorney Craig Oscar Robertson said Amon’s decision to issuing an enjoinment shows “there was an unconventional look sharp to judgment” against his client.

Still, he added that Baffert has had a “good relationship” with NYRA and hopes that can buoy be rekindled for the well(p) of the sport.

O’Rourke said inward a statement after the injunction was issued that the justice did maintain the authority’s rights to censor horsemen who doh non bit inwards the topper interestingness of the sport. He also noted that the homage denied Baffert’s argumentation that NYRA had no more standing to act.

“NYRA is reviewing the court’s decision today to influence our legal options and next steps,” O’Rourke said. “What is clear, however, is that Mr. Baffert’s actions and behaviour tin either elevate or impairment the sport. We anticipate Mr. Baffert to exercise conquer controls o'er his operation.”

Kentucky Derby Status Still Up inward the Air

Wednesday’s ruling means goose egg regarding Al Madinah Spirit’s position as the Bluegrass State Derby winner. That will live decided by the KHRC, which has not proclaimed a schedule for when that might occur.

If the military commission rules to indispose Al Madinah Spirit, it would Deutsche Mark the arcsecond clip in the race’s account that the victor was disqualified because of a failed dose test.

Baffert, through his attorney, did corroborate lastly month that the split up taste prove outcome confirmed the initial essay failure. After that was announced Churchill Downs announced Baffert’s hanging would execute through and through 2023.

The dose tests found an excessive amount of betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug steroid, inward Al Madinah Spirit’s system. A calendar week after the Derby win, when Baffert firstly revealed the failed do drugs test, Baffert told reporters in a printing press group discussion out of doors his barn at Winston S. Churchill Downs that the gymnastic horse had ne'er been treated with the drug.

Days later, he revealed that Medina Spirit was treated with a topical salve that contained the do drugs and that could get caused the failed test. Baffert said the salve was used upon a veterinarian’s good word to care for a tegument blizzard found after Medina Spirit ran inwards the Apr 3 Santa Anita Derby.

Baffert also faces lawsuits from Kentucky Derby bettors who title they were cheated out of win because Medina Spirit did non ladder clean.