Kentucky Derby Trainer Suspended Until 2023

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A hall of fame horse trainer has been suspended from Churchill downs until 2023.

Trainer Bob Baffert has been suspended from entering any horses into races at Churchill Downs among other race tracks after Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test.

Over his four decade long training career, Baffert’s horses have been flagged for at least 30 medication violations, an issue that the CEO of Churchill Downs says can threaten the public confidence in thoroughbred racing as well as the reputation of the Kentucky Derby.

This would be the second Derby disqualification in three years after 2019 winner Maximum Security was disqualified for interference after the race and Country House declared the winner. The only previous time that a Derby winner was disqualified after the fact for failing a postrace drug test was 1968 with Dancer’s Image.

Churchill Downs initially suspended Baffert indefinitely pending the investigation and now said it reserves the right to extend Baffert’s suspension if he has any other violations in other states. Baffert has had five in the past 13 months.