How do horses qualify to run in the Kentucky Derby?
- – 100 points go to the winner – 40 points to the runner up – 20 points to the third place finisher – 10 points to the fourth place finisher
Did the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner get disqualified?
Medina Spirit, the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby before being disqualified for multiple failed drug tests, died of an apparent heart attack suffered during a morning workout at Santa Anita Park Monday (December 6) morning, CBS Los Angeles reports.
Who won the Kentucky Derby what horse?
Medina Spirit and jockey John Velazquez won the Kentucky Derby on May 1 with 12-1 odds, making it the seventh victory for Baffert, per Courier Journal.
What happened to the horse that won the Kentucky Derby?
Medina Spirit, 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at Santa Anita Park following workout. Medina Spirit, the controversial winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, collapsed and died following a workout at Santa Anita Park on Monday, according to California Horse Racing Board’s Equine medical director Jeff Blea.
Who won the Kentucky Derby in 1982?
The California Horse Racing Board’s Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea confirmed the 3-year-old horse’s passing and said that he ordered a comprehensive autopsy be done to determine the cause of death. According to reports, jockey Juan Ochoa was riding Medina Spirit when the horse collapsed.
Which horse just died?
California’s Horse Racing Board said Medina Spirit was just finishing his workout when he collapsed at the finish line. He died instantaneously, the board said.
What famous horse died today 2021?
Medina Spirit’s was the 71st death in California in 2021, according to the California Horse Racing Board.
What is Medina Spirit worth?
Even crazier, just two years after being acquired at auction for $1,000, Medina Spirit is most likely now worth more than $50 million. With less than 5% of all racehorses earning more than $100,000 annually, the sport of horse racing has long been considered a fun but money-burning experience reserved for elites.
What is Chad Brown worth?
United States of America. splits: 1. Chad Brown Net Worth: Chad Brown is a former American professional football player who has a net worth of $12 million.
What do horse jockeys get paid?
That’s still a huge payday in a sport where an average year’s earning can be $30,000-$40,000, according to Career Trend — and as recently as 2018, paid half of North America’s 1,559 thoroughbred jockeys less than $12,000 per year, according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, based on horses’ prize winnings.
Medina Spirit Stripped of 2021 Kentucky Derby Win
Medina Spirit will no longer be the winner of the Kentucky Derby in 2021, according to the official results. Officials with the Kentucky Racing Commission said on Monday that the horse, who died abruptly in December, was disqualified from the race for failing a drug test after winning it. Medina Spirit is only the third horse in the race’s 147-year history to be penalized for finishing first after receiving a disqualification. It is because of this decision that the colt’s owner, Amr Zedan, will not receive the $1.8 million first-place check, which was never paid out.
It was announced in a statement that Mandaloun will be recognized as the winner of the 2021 Derby, and that “we look forward to celebrating Mandaloun at a future date in a manner that is fitting of this rare distinction.” Churchill Downs, which is located near Louisville, Ky., is the track that hosts the Derby.
Baffert was also fined $7,500 and suspended for 90 days, starting on March 8, in addition to the other penalties.
14, the Kentucky Horse Racing Association conducted a videoconference hearing before a three-member panel of stewards.
- It was betamethasone that was discovered in Medina Spirit’s system.
- Neither Baffert nor his attorneys admitted to injecting the colt, but said the medicine was given topically to Medina Spirit’s hind end to treat a skin problem.
- He also stated that they will seek all legal remedies available to them through the judicial system.
- A fresh stain has been placed on a sport that has been plagued by doping issues, and Baffert’s image and future in the sport are now in risk as a result of the ban.
- Those in charge of Kentucky racing have made their judgment at a time when the Triple Crown season is heating up and the race for qualifying points to secure a position in the Derby’s starting gate is becoming increasingly competitive.
- Baffert has three outstanding 3-year-old colts in his barn, with two of them, Corniche and Newgrange, being undefeated so far this season.
According to a comprehensive draft legal complaint obtained by The New York Times, Baffert threatened to sue Churchill Downs last month if the track did not lift the two-year ban, claiming that his right to due process had been violated and that he had been unlawfully excluded from Churchill Downs and the Derby.
- ImageCredit.
- Carstanjen, the chairman and chief executive of Churchill Downs, stated that the lawsuit was “without merit.” He vowed to countersue if the lawsuit was filed, and he stressed that Baffert had been convicted of similar crimes in the past.
- Over the course of four decades, Baffert’s horses have failed a total of 30 drug tests, including five in the most recent 13-month span.
- Baffert’s “well-worn script” of obfuscating the facts, making reasons to explain positive drug tests, and blaming others in order to evade accountability for his own conduct, according to Carstanjen, who spoke to The New York Times about the potential lawsuit.
- The trainer has denied the allegations, which were heard by a panel of three members of the board of directors.
- California racing officials announced on Friday that tests of hair, blood, and urine had revealed no signs of doping.
According to the law, which is set to go into effect on July 1, 2022, a board of directors controlled by the Federal Trade Commission will develop regulations and punishments that will be implemented by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which governs Olympic and other top athletes in the United States.
- It is unclear what role USADA will play in the future, however, because the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which is responsible for developing a framework and funding for enforcement, was unable to come to an agreement with the agency.
- With Medina Spirit’s apparent triumph at Churchill Downs last year, Baffert became the seventh trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, breaking the previous record of Ben Jones, who won the race for the first time in 1952.
- When Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in 2019, he was disqualified for nearly knocking over a competing horse in the far bend and delaying the progress of other horses behind him.
- He is now in custody awaiting trial.
- In that particular case, the disqualification was affirmed only after four years of litigation in the courts of appeals.
The Kentucky verdict did not completely compensate bettors. However, although those who backed Medina Spirit were able to keep their wins, those who backed Mandaloun were left with losing tickets, which caused a class-action lawsuit to be filed on their behalf.
Medina Spirit, disputed winner of 2021 Kentucky Derby, dies after workout
According to trainer Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit, who was widely regarded as the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, died of a heart attack following a training at Santa Anita Park on Monday. “This news has crushed my whole barn,” Baffert wrote in an email to reporters. We are heartbroken by the passing of Medina Spirit, who was a tremendous champion and a beloved member of our family. He will be sorely missed.” I shall always treasure the proud and intimate recollections I have of Medina Spirit and his incredible spirit,” says the author.
Immediately following the incident, a team lead by Senior Veterinarian Dr.
The California Horse Racing Board received the samples and used them in their investigations.
The results of the necropsy and toxicological examinations will be released by the CHRC at a later date.
Medina Spirit at the Kentucky Derby
Medina Spirit and jockey John Velazquez won the Kentucky Derby on May 1 by a half-length against Mandaloun, despite being given odds of 12-1. It was Baffert’s seventh Kentucky Derby triumph, breaking a tie with Ben Jones for the most victories by a trainer in the race’s 147-year history. Medina Spirit and Baffert, on the other hand, were the focus of a debate that has not been settled to this day a week later. On May 9, Baffert said that Medina Spirit had tested positive for betamethasone at a concentration of 21 picograms.
It is used to treat a variety of conditions.
Mandaloun will be named the winner of the Kentucky Derby if the findings of Medina Spirit’s positive test are maintained, according to Churchill Downs officials.
It was Baffert’s team, lead by owner Amr Zedan, that brought a lawsuit against the KHRC in June, claiming that the betamethasone found in the horse’s blood tests came from a topical cream rather than an injection.
Bob Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension
- In a statement released on Friday, Baffert’s attorney Craig Robertson stated that the findings of a split urine sample taken from Medina Spirit indicated that the betamethasone found in the horse’s system after winning the Kentucky Derby originated from the topical medication Otomax. The results following the Kentucky Derby were purely the consequence of the horse being treated for a skin problem with a topical ointment under the supervision of Medina Spirit’s veterinarian, according to Robertson’s statement. According to Dr. Mary Scollay, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, the presence of a Class C substance on race day, such as betamethasone, results in a “non-negotiable” exclusion from the competition. “The fact that it was in the horse does not diminish the fact that it was in the animal,” Scollay explained. Bob Baffert’s attorney is: Medina Spirit’s test demonstrated that betamethasone was used topically rather than injection. Baffert is now serving a two-year suspension at Churchill Downs, which will last until the conclusion of the 2023 Spring Meet, according to the track. This will feature the Kentucky Derby events in 2022 and 2023. Since 2000, according to a Washington Post piece published in June, at least 74 horses have died under Baffert’s care in his home state of California, a figure that exceeds the total of all but two other trainers in the state, according to a Washington Post study of statistics and public records. However, when the number of races conducted is taken into consideration, Baffert’s horses have perished at the highest rate among the ten trainers who have had the most horse deaths. Medina Spirit, a 3-year-old filly that raced for Zedan Racing Stables, finished with a 5-4-1 record in 10 lifetime races and earned $3,545,200. Horse racing: The instance of trainer Bob Baffert highlights the competing interests that exist in horse racing. Medina Spirit, a son of Protonico out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa, prepared for the Kentucky Derby at Santa Anita Park with victories in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis and runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Sham, Grade 2 San Felipe, and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Medina Spirit is a son of Protonico out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa. Following her victory in the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit finished third in the Preakness Stakes and was subsequently retired from competition for a period of three and a half months. He bounced back with victory in the Grade 1 Shared Belief at Del Mar and the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita before finishing second to Knicks Go in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6, capping his career. Jason Frakes can be reached at 502-582-4046 or [email protected]
- His Twitter handle is @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
Medina Spirit’s 2021 Kentucky Derby win has been nullified and horse trainer Bob Baffert is suspended
(CNN) The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said Monday that Medina Spirit’s win in the Kentucky Derby in 2021 has been ruled invalid by the commission.
After winning the Derby and reaching the finish line first, the horse was subjected to a drug test. Medina Spiritdied in the month of December. The thoroughbred was nearing the end of a training when he slumped at the finish line at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Southern California.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission also imposed a 90-day ban for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who was responsible for Medina Spirit’s training, as well as a $7,500 fine. Baffert stated that he intends to file an appeal against the verdict. CNN was presented with a statement from Baffert’s representative, in which he expressed his disappointment with the decision. “Moreover, it is in direct conflict with the scientifically verified facts in this case and with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s standards.
Mandaloun has been declared the winner of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, according to Churchill Downs, the site of the prestigious event.
“We offer our congratulations to Mandaloun’s owner/breeder Juddmonte, trainer Brad Cox, and jockey Florent Geroux,” the track said.
This article was written with assistance from CNN’s Nick Watt and Wayne Sterling.
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s failed drug test is confirmed
On Wednesday, a lawyer for Medina Spirit’s owner told CNBC that the horse’s blood had been tested for the presence of the banned steroid betamethasone for the second time. Medina Spirit was the winner of the Kentucky Derby. The likelihood that Medina Spirit’s victory on May 1 would be reversed by Kentucky racing officials and that Mandaloun, who finished second on that day, will be proclaimed the winner grows dramatically with the second positive test being obtained. The entity that manages Churchill Downs Racetrack — the venue of the Kentucky Derby — announced that Baffert had been suspended for two years immediately upon the announcement of the results of the test.
- That test, Brewster said, might reveal whether there are substances that would support the assertion of trainerBob Baffert that the betamethasone may have originated from an antifungal ointment administered to the horse, and not an injection.
- The attorney said that he may also contest the accuracy and methodology of the first official test, as well as the second examination of blood, known as a split sample, conducted by the laboratory staff.
- The trainer generally has the option of “sending the B sample” to a specified lab for examination in order to conduct a second, confirmatory test if the horse fails the first test, according to Brewster.
- Trainer Bob Baffert of Medina Spirit, lifts the trophy after winning the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby with Medina Spirit, his seventh career Kentucky Derby triumph, at Churchill Downs on May 01, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky.
- “But theyrefused to send” the pee, Brewster added.
- Brewster said the lab did not divulge the level of the steroid discovered in the blood, “but they acknowledged it’s there.” “They estimated it was 25 picograms,” he said.
- While that drug can be legally used as a therapeutic in Kentucky on a horse, any trace of it on race day is grounds for disqualification if a second test confirms it was in the blood on that day.
The lawyer said testing labs in recent years have become able to detect minute levels of pharmaceutical substances, some of which can enter a horse’s or human’s system by incidental contact, as opposed to intentional administration.
“Hopefully they will make a reasonable judgment,” Brewster said.
Baffert, who so far this year has seen five of his horses fail drug tests, was suspended indefinitely from Churchill Downs Racetrack, where the Derby is held, as a result of Medina Spirit’s first positive test.
Medina Spirit finished third in the Preakness.
Baffert has trained two Triple Crown winners.
Baffert’s lawyer W.
“In response to the inquiries, this will acknowledge that the Medina Spirit split sample confirmed the finding of betamethasone at 25 picograms,” Robertson said.
“We expect this additional testing to confirm that the presence of the betamethasone was from the topical ointment, Otomax, and not an injection,” Robertson said.
We will have nothing further to say until the additional testing is complete.” Kristin Voskuhl, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, said in a statement that the commission “does not provide comment or updates on the status of ongoing investigations.” “The KHRC values fairness and transparency, and will provide information to the media and public at the close of an investigation,” Voskuhl said.
Marty Irby, executive director of the advocacy group Animal Wellness Action, in a statement, said, “The news of Medina Spirit’s second test confirmed positive is no shock.” “Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission must stand firmly together in agreement to take the 2021 Derby title away from Bob Baffert and the horse,” Irby said.
It’s time to end the cheating and medication abuse in the fastest two minutes in sports and an example must be made.” Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal owns NBC and NBC Sports, which broadcast the Triple Crown races.
Who won the Kentucky Derby in 2021? Full results, finish order & highlights from the race
Update: Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test, putting the horse’s chances of winning the Kentucky Derby in peril. If the findings of the test are maintained, Medina Spirit will be disqualified from the Kentucky Derby, and Mandaloun, the runner-up, would be crowned the winner. It was declared by Churchill Downs that Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, has been barred from entering any horses at the racing track for the foreseeable future. Baffert has stated that he will appeal the decision, describing the event as “a blatant injustice.
- With his seventh career victory at Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit (12-1), set a new Kentucky Derby record with his victory.
- “It’s hard for me to believe.
- “I really like the album and everything, but it’s one of those things where I’m really overjoyed because, when you win something, you never know whether you’ll be back.
- A little little racehorse, that one!” Medina Spirit was purchased as a yearling for the sum of $1,000.
- pic.twitter.com/pEvJFsQwBw It will be May 1, 2021, according to NBC Sports (@NBCSports).
- During the Kentucky Derby in 2021, Sporting News gave live updates on the race.
- ADVANCED INFORMATION: Kentucky Derby payout breakdown for 2021
Kentucky Derby finish order
| Order | Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1 | Medina Spirit | $26.20 | $12.00 | $7.60 |
| 2 | Mandaloun | $23.00 | $13.40 | |
| 3 | Hot Rod Charlie | $5.20 | ||
| 4 | Essential Quality | |||
| 5 | O Besos | |||
| 6 | Midnight Bourbon | |||
| 7 | Keepmeinmind | |||
| 8 | Helium | |||
| 9 | Known Agenda | |||
| 10 | Highly Motivated | |||
| 11 | Sainthood | |||
| 12 | Like The King | |||
| 13 | Bourbonic | |||
| 14 | Hidden Stash | |||
| 15 | Brooklyn Strong | |||
| 16 | Super Stock | |||
| 17 | Rock Your World | |||
| 18 | Dynamic One | |||
| 19 | Soup And Sandwich | |||
| 20 | King Fury (scratch) |
- $1 Exacta (8-7) paid $503.60
- $1 Trifecta (8-7-9) paid $1,696.90
- $1 Superfecta (8-7-9-14) paid $9,456.40
- $2 Exacta (8-7) paid $503.60
- $2 Superfecta (8-7-9-14) paid $9,456.40
Watch the 2021 Kentucky Derby
It will be May 1, 2021, according to NBC Sports (@NBCSports).
Kentucky Derby live updates, highlights, results
• NBC Sports (@NBCSports) on Twitter on May 1, 2021
2021 Kentucky Derby post time
- Date:Saturday, May 1
- Post time:6:57 p.m. ET
- TV coverage:NBC, fuboTV (7-day free trial)
- NBC Sports Network
The Kentucky Derby will be broadcast live on NBC beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on April 6, 2021. The event will take place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, and the first post will be at 6:57 p.m. Eastern Time. You can also watch the Derby live on fuboTV, which is offering a seven-day free trial period right now.
Kentucky Derby post positions
The entire list of starting positions, as well as the chances of each horse winning the Kentucky Derby, may be seen below.
| Post position | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Known Agenda | 6-1 |
| 2 | Like The King | 50-1 |
| 3 | Brooklyn Strong | 50-1 |
| 4 | Keepmeinmind | 50-1 |
| 5 | Sainthood | 50-1 |
| 6 | O Besos | 20-1 |
| 7 | Mandaloun | 15-1 |
| 8 | Medina Spirit | 15-1 |
| 9 | Hot Rod Charlie | 8-1 |
| 10 | Midnight Bourbon | 20-1 |
| 11 | Dynamic One | 20-1 |
| 12 | Helium | 50-1 |
| 13 | Hidden Stash | 50-1 |
| 14 | Essential Quality | 2-1 |
| 15 | Rock Your World | 5-1 |
| 16 | King Fury | 20-1 |
| 17 | Highly Motivated | 10-1 |
| 18 | Super Stock | 30-1 |
| 19 | Soup And Sandwich | 30-1 |
| 20 | Bourbonic | 30-1 |
Horse Racing’s Best Team Props Up an Underdog in Riveting Derby
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is a public research institution. In the aftermath of a Kentucky Derby outcome that was both very familiar and largely unexpected, the ecstasy spilled across the track at Churchill Downs and into the winner’s circle, a moving tangle of people cheering and hugging in the afterglow of a victory. “I won the Derby,” Amr Zedan, a Saudi Arabian businessman and owner of Medina Spirit, sobbed into his phone as he announced his victory. “I was victorious in the Derby.” The person on the other end of the phone line was Zedan’s father.
- Following Zedan’s death, the rest of the group arrived, pumped and ready to celebrate.
- “Can you f—king believe this s—?” Bob Baffert said, still in a state of euphoric surprise.
- “How do you like that?
- Believe it or not.
- Although it was not a typical Baffert entry in this race, he pulled it off with a bargain-basement horse that was sent out at 12-1 odds after creating significantly less excitement than a normal Baffert entry in this event.
- Sports Illustrated photographer Erick Rasco Medina Spirit was originally offered for sale for the ludicrous sum of $1,000 in a sport where the most regally bred yearlings may fetch millions of dollars.
- He only received one bid, which was the winning bid.
That is far less than the current market value of Baffert’s top horses.
Prior to that, Life Is Good appeared to have all the makings of the next Baffert monster, winning the San Felipe Stakes in March by defeating Medina Spirit.
When Medina Spirit was defeated by Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby in April, it didn’t do much to instill faith in the racing public.
“I was able to sneak inside this place,” Baffert explained.
His absence from the post position draw on Tuesday was followed by a leisurely hour on Wednesday outside his Barn 33 home on the Churchill backside, where he reclined on a sawhorse and shot the wind.
“Perhaps he’ll get a piece of it or something,” Baffert speculated, hoping without hope that his horse will finish first.
“You can see why he only cost $35,000,” a trainer observed as he galloped around the track on Wednesday morning.
Only two of Baffert’s seven victories have been backed at double-digit odds: War Emblem at 21-1 in 2002 and Medina Spirit at 11-1 this year, respectively.
Medina Spirit, on the other hand, had three things going for him: the finest trainer in the world, the best jockey in the business (John Velazquez), and the sheer speed with which he was able to take the lead and dictate terms to the rest of the field.
After examining the terrain, Velazquez concluded that he could position his horse in the lead.
“And the more I looked at the race, the more I analyzed the race, the more I realized he was significantly quicker than the other horses.” As far as the lead was concerned, Rock Your World appeared to be the most formidable opponent.
Rock Your World, on the other hand, was late to leave the gate and was immediately stopped down in traffic, so it never had a chance to get there.
Velazquez placed his horse into a comfortable pace, anticipating that there would be no blistering speed competition.
When that 1:11 appeared on the giant video screen, it became evident that Velazquez had a chance to take the lead in the early stages of the competition.
When Medina Spirit came around the corner, Mandaloun, the second-stringer in Brad Cox’s stable behind Essential Quality, loomed beside him and didn’t let up until the finish.
With four horses all charging forward, it appeared as though any of the pursuers may be able to get past Medina Spirit and claim the flowers.
Baffert expressed himself.
Sports Illustrated photographer Erick Rasco From losing a picture finish in his first Derby in 1996 (“I never believed I’d be back”) to losing a Triple Crown in a photo finish two years later, Baffert has experienced a lot of racing drama during his quarter century at the top of the thoroughbred game.
- There were no gut punches this time; only backslaps and hugs.Medina Spirit demonstrated his best attribute in that stretch battle: he is an extremely competitive horse.
- “That little horse has a lot of guts,” Baffert remarked of his mount.
- This was a fight to the finish, and the horse with the most grit triumphed.
- “All you ask for in a horse is that.” The tense drama was the final gift of this Kentucky Derby weekend, a sun-drenched return to near-normalcy in American sports that culminated in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
- At Churchill Downs, it was extremely quiet when Baffert won the postponed Derby last year, which took place over Labor Day weekend in front of perhaps 1,000 fans amid an eerie silence.
- Even though Churchill tried to enforce health laws on them, the audience was wildly joyous, completely disregarding his efforts.
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Horse racing-Medina Spirit’s 2021 Kentucky Derby win nullified, Baffert suspended
Bob Baffert, the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, stands along the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 28, 2021, in the United States of America. Bryan Woolston for Reuters
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(Reuters) – On February 21, Reuters reported that On Monday, racing officials declared that Medina Spirit’s win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby had been invalidated due to the presence of a prohibited substance in his system. In addition, trainer Bob Baffert was suspended for 90 days and fined by the board of directors. It wasn’t until a post-race sample revealed that the dark bay colt had been given betamethasone, a corticosteroid, that Baffert’s record seventh victory in North America’s most famous race at Churchill Downs was broken.
Baffert will be suspended from March 8 to June 5, and he will be unable to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
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Baffert has attempted to make a distinction between injectable betamethasone and betamethasone that is absorbed through an ointment, which is how he believes the medication entered the colt’s system, according to the New York Times. “I am really unhappy in the decision,” Baffert said in a statement sent to Reuters by his attorney. “Moreover, it is in direct conflict with the scientifically verified facts in this case and with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s standards. We will be submitting an appeal as soon as possible.” As a result of the positive tests for illegal drugs conducted on several of Baffert’s horses in recent years, state horse racing officials have increased their surveillance of the trainer.
Medina Spirit competed again in the Preakness Stakes in mid-May, finishing third, but was disqualified from competing in the Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing in the United States.
click here to find out more Following the announcement of the steward’s decision, Churchill Downs congratulated Mandaloun, the horse who finished second, as well as his trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux, on his victory.
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Rory Carroll contributed reporting from Los Angeles. Christian Radnedge was in charge of the editing. The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles serve as our benchmarks.
Medina Spirit stripped of 2021 Kentucky Derby win as Mandaloun is named winner
As of Monday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission declared that Medina Spirit, the horse that won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was subsequently found to have tested positive for illegal drugs and died, had been stripped of his Derby title. A separate decision by the commission ordered that the $1.86 million bounty from Medina Spirit’s victory must be forfeited and returned to the state for redistribution. In addition, the commission banned Medina Spirit’s trainer, Bob Baffert, for 90 days and fined him $7,500 for his involvement in the race.
- Moreover, it is in direct conflict with the scientifically verified facts in this case and with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s standards.
- As a result, the experienced trainer is prohibited from enrolling horses at the New York Racing Association’s three main tracks: Belmont, Saratoga, and Aqueduct.
- “Today, Churchill Downs recognizes Mandaloun as the winner of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby and extends our congratulations to owner-breeder Juddmonte, trainer Brad Cox, and jockey Florent Geroux,” the track said in a statement.
- That quantity of the substance is more than double the maximum limit permitted in Kentucky horse racing.
- Medina Spirit died on December 6 during a training session at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
The Kentucky Derby is scheduled to take place on May 7 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2022. Credit for the image goes to Thomas Kelley of Shutterstock.com.
Medina Spirit stripped of Kentucky Derby win; trainer Bob Baffert fined, suspended
Almost nine months after a probe after a failed post-race drug test, Medina Spirit, whose dominant victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby helped establish Bob Baffert as one of horse racing’s most accomplished trainers, was stripped of the race’s championship. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission announced in aruling that Medina Spirit’s purse money for winning the Derby, which amounts to about $1.86 million, must also be forfeited. In addition, Baffert will be barred from competing in sports for 90 days, beginning next month, and will be required to pay a $7,500 fine.
- A horse called Mandaloun, who finished second in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, which takes place annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, has been proclaimed as the official winner of the event.
- “Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the most exhilarating sporting accomplishments, and we look forward to honoring Mandaloun in a manner befitting of this unique distinction at a later date,” officials from the horse racing complex said in a statement.
- The California Horse Racing Board eventually said that there was no conclusive cause of death that could be identified.
- Despite the fact that betamethasone is a lawful pain-relieving steroid that is widely used to treat horses, it is not permitted in many jurisdictions, including Kentucky, for horses to have any level of it in their system on race day.
- After a split urine test revealed that Medina Spirit had been drugged, Baffert refuted the allegations, claiming that the substance was in the horse’s system as a result of a topical salve.
- In June, he was also barred from competing at Churchill Downs for a period of two years.
- Craig Robertson III, stated that an appeal against the decision will be filed.
- “It is in direct conflict with the scientifically verified facts in this case as well as the guidelines of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission,” says the attorney.
According to Clark Brewster, the minuscule quantity of marijuana detected in Medina Spirit “could not have had any effect on the horse in any manner,” and it “could not have conceivably altered the outcome of the race.” Medina Spirit is just the third horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby to be disqualified from the renowned race after finishing first in the competition.
Anything that may be done to recover winnings that have already been given to fans who placed bets on Medina Spirit is exceedingly doubtful.
When asked if Mandaloun bettors would ever be successful in a legal challenge, Louisville attorney Robert Heleringer said bluntly: “I don’t know if they ever will.” “No, thank you very much, sir.
In Heleringer’s opinion, “it’s just one of many risks every gambler, whether at the track or online, accepts when they put their money down.” Heleringer is a lecturer in equine regulatory law at the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.
A professional writer for NBC News, Erik Ortiz is a specialist in the areas of racial injustice and socioeconomic inequality. David K. Li is an NBC News reporter who covers breaking news stories. Contributors included Doha Madani and Brooke Glatz.
Medina Spirit stripped of 2021 Kentucky Derby victory, trainer Bob Baffert suspended 90 days
USATSI As of Monday, Medina Spirit has been formally disqualified as the Kentucky Derby champion for 2021, according to a statement released by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. In addition, Bob Baffert, the trainer, has been banned for 90 days. Everything started when Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, a medication that is prohibited in racing. This happened immediately after she won the race. On race day, the use of betamethasone is permitted in the state of Kentucky, but it is not permitted on any other day.
The board of stewards had a hearing earlier in February, and the formal decision was issued shortly after.
The results of a necropsy were recently disclosed, and they revealed that Medina Spirit died as a result of an unknown reason.
As stated in a release, “Today, Churchill Downs honors Mandaloun as the winner of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, and we express our congratulations to owner/breeder Juddmonte, trainer Brad Cox, and rider Florent Geroux.” A winning Kentucky Derby is one of the most thrilling sporting feats, and we look forward to honoring Mandaloun in a manner that is befitting of such a prestigious honor at a future date.
Since taking first place in the Kentucky Derby in May of 2021, Medina Spirit has raced in four other races throughout the country.
Medina Spirit finished first five times in his career and earned a total of $3.5 million during his career.
Medina Spirit Stripped Of 2021 Kentucky Derby Win; Trainer Bob Baffert Suspended And Fined
Former Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, poses for a photograph after winning the Kentucky Derby in 2020. Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Officials with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said Monday that the late thoroughbred horse Medina Spirit had been stripped of his Kentucky Derby victory in 2021, and that the colt’s Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, had been banned for 90 days and fined $7,500. It comes as a result of a recent hearing in front of a three-member panel of KHRC stewards, which was the latest volley in a nearly year-long saga.
- The panel reached its conclusion after hearing arguments from both sides.
- “Medina Spirit has been disqualified, and all purse money has been forfeited,” the stewards’ decision states.
- Baffert that he would be prohibited access to any facilities under its control while his ban is in effect.
- Baffert are barred from entering the competition unless they are transferred to individuals acceptable to the stewards.” According to the verdict, Baffert’s ban will begin on March 8, 2022, and will last until June 5, 2022.
- However, Baffert’s attorney, Clark Brewster, stated in an interview on Monday that Baffert and his legal team had promptly challenged the verdict and that, if necessary, they would take the matter directly to the Kentucky state court system to resolve the issue.
- That was verified, not only scientifically, but also by meticulous record-keeping,” Brewster explained.
- As part of his argument, Brewster asserted that the deck was unjustly set against Baffert since one of the stewards on the panel, Tyler B.
- “There’s no way there wasn’t some sort of bias,” Brewster asserted.
Whenever we get the opportunity to appear in front of unbiased decision makers who are normally interested in applying the rules to the facts, I am very certain that we will prevail.” Mandaloun is the official Kentucky Derby winner for the year 2021 for the time being, and the $1.8 million first-place purse money will go to Mandaloun’s connections, which include owner Juddmonte.
- Baffert had threatened to take legal action against Churchill Downs earlier this year, and Brewster said Monday that a decision had not yet been taken on whether to proceed with the legal action.
- The chief executive of Churchill Downs, Bill Carstanjen, described any threat of legal action by Baffert as “totally meritless” in an article published last month in the New York Times.
- Between now and then, the New York Racing Association, which on May 17 declared that Baffert will be suspended for a period of time, has yet to rule on his case.
- As a consequence of the organization charging Baffert with various offenses, including “engaging in behavior harmful to the best interests of Thoroughbred Racing,” an administrative hearing was held from January 24 to January 28 of this year, lasting from 24 to 28 days.
- Peter Sherwood, a retired Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, presided over the NYRA hearing and will provide a judgement on the matter.
‘If the Hearing Officer determines that revocation or suspension of the respondent’s (Baffert) right to enter, or to engage in any activity at, a NYRA racetrack is merited, the Hearing Report should identify the period of time for which the revocation or suspension will be in effect.’ “The post-hearing process is still in progress.” This year’s Kentucky Derby is the most prestigious event in horse racing, and whether Baffert will be permitted to compete in it is still an open question.
Recently, Brewster expressed his confidence that Baffert will not only have his horses race in the 2022 Derby, but would also be in the winner’s circle, according to a separate interview.
“I believe I have a responsibility to speak up, not just for myself and my owners, but also for any other trainer they may like to ruin in the future,” Baffert said, referring to Churchill Downs. “Their wealth and power are no match for the truth and the rule of justice.”