Bob Baffert has sued Churchill Downs and is pursuing leadership in federal court, seeking to overturn the assaulted Hall of Fame coach. two-year suspension for reasons that violated their rights to due process.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court names Churchill Downs Inc., CEO William C. Carstanjen and board chairman R. Alex Rankin. The historic track suspended Baffert last year until 2023 and cited a recent series of failed drug tests on his horses, including the now deceased foal Medina Spirit after winning the Kentucky Derby. An after-race drug test revealed corticosteroid betamethasone in his system, which is allowed in Kentucky but banned on race day.
Kentucky race commissioners disqualified Medina Spirit last week and handed Baffert a 90-day suspension and a $ 7,500 fine. Churchill Downs recognized runner-up Mandaloun as the winner shortly afterwards. Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Director Marc A. Guilfoil on Friday denied the coach’s request to suspend the suspension, which is scheduled to begin on March 8.
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Baffert and his representatives have argued that the Medina Spirit steroid comes from the topical Otomax ointment, rather than a banned injection. Attorney Clark Brewster said in a statement Tuesday that Churchill Downs is not tasked with relegating horse racing to Kentucky, but that it could “unilaterally ban” a coach without having facts or any resemblance due process.
“Churchill Downs and Mr. Carstanjen knew full well that imposing their suspension, based on zero legal or factual support, would give illegitimate credibility to a false narrative about Bob,” Brewster added, “creating pressure on administrators. of the Kentucky Race Horsing Commission to take action against him as well. “
Churchill Downs called Baffert’s lawsuit disappointing but not surprising in a statement, saying he would fight the lawsuit and defend the company’s rights.
“His claims have no merit and are consistent with his pattern of failed drug tests, denials, excuses and attempts to blame others and identify loopholes to avoid taking responsibility for his actions,” he added.
Spirit Medina died December 6 so Baffert said it was a heart attack after a workout on the Santa Anita racetrack in California. An autopsy did not reveal any definitive cause of his death. The ashes of the horse will be buried in a purebred horse retirement farm in Kentucky.
- In:
- Bob Baffert
- Kentucky derby
- Churchill Downs
- spirit medina
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