'I'm not ready to retire' - Bob Baffert back in business as 90-day ban ends

Hall of Fame trainerBob Baffert is free to resume his career after his 90-day suspension for breaching rules on medication ended on Sunday.

The suspension, which began April 4, was issued by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a failed post-race medication test following the win by Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit in last year's Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky stewards suspended and fined Baffert while disqualifying Medina Spirit from his Derby victory when the class C substance corticosteroid betamethasone was detected in the colt's post-race split sample.

While Baffert is allowed to make entries again, he is prevented from having runners at Churchill Downs as the track imposed a two-year suspension on him, which the trainer legally contested but failed to overturn.

His ban at tracks owned by Churchill Downs runs through to next May, meaning he will be barred from competing in next year's Kentucky Derby.

Baffert is also unable to have runners at the three New York tracks after a New York Racing Association panel issued a one-year ban from its facilities for "conduct detrimental to the best interests of the sport". That suspension is due to run through to January.

However, on Sunday morning Baffert was back to business overseeing his team at Santa Anita, California, for the first time in three months.

"I'm not ready to retire," Baffert told the Daily Racing Form (DRF).

During his suspension, Baffert's runners were transferred to his former assistant Tim Yakteen and trainer Sean McCarthy. Under Yakteen's care, former Baffert trainees Taiba and Messier finished first and second in the Santa Anita Derby prior to competing in the Kentucky Derby, in which they finished 12th and 15th.

Speaking of Yakteen and McCarthy, Baffert told the DRF: "They did a good job. I’m proud of them. They kept it together.”

Baffert's stable is set to compete at the Del Mar summer meeting, which begins July 22.

Read these next:

Apprentice remains in induced coma to monitor head injuries after horror fall

Arc aim for 'class filly' Alpinista after fourth straight Group 1 success

Racing Post takes seriously its commitment to Safer Gambling and encourages people to stay within their limits and stay in control. If you would like to know more visit our dedicated Safer Gambling page here