Horse racing complex and the home of Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs suspended trainer Bob Baffert from entering the track and suggested that it would nullify his horse, Medina Spirit’s victory in Kentucky Derby 2021 if the results of his drug tests are upheld.

“Churchill Downs will not tolerate it”, a statement from the track said. “Given the seriousness of the alleged offense, Churchill Downs will immediately suspend Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, from entering any horses at Churchill Downs Racetrack. To be clear, if the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit’s results in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared the winner”. 

Also read | Who won 2021 Kentucky Derby?

The only horse to be ever disqualified due to its medication was Dancer’s Image in 1968 after winning the Derby. 

Medina Spirit is Baffert’s fifth horse to fail a drug test. The announcement from Churchill Downs came after Baffert announced about the failed drug test which he said would be fought “tooth and nail”. Following his attorney’s press conference in Churchill Downs, Baffert said he was told that his horse was to have 21 picograms of the steroid betamethasone, which is twice the legal threshold in Kentucky racing. 

Also read | Luis Saez fails to redeem 2019 disqualification as Essential Quality comes fourth

“I got the biggest gut-punch in racing, for something I didn’t do”, said Baffert. “This shouldn’t have happened. There’s a problem somewhere. It didn’t come from us”. He also called it a complete injustice. “I don’t feel embarrassed, I feel like I was wronged”, he added.