Bob Baffert facing potential two-year ban for a string of medical violations

Bob Baffert should receive a two-year suspension from the New York Racing Association (NYRA) for a string of medical violations, having engaged in "unlawful conduct that has no parallel in the modern history of thoroughbred racing", a judge has declared following a hearing.

The suspension – which would apply only to Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga – must be approved by a three-person NYRA panel. If approved, it would come into effect after Baffert's separate 90-day suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, following the failed post-race drug tests and disqualification of Medina Spirit from victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, ends on July 2.

Clerk Brewster, one of Baffert's lawyers, announced there would be an appeal against Judge O Peter Sherwood's decision and questioned his impartiality.

"We will appeal until there is a decision by a true, neutral, detached judge," Brewster said via text.

During the hearing, the NYRA charged Baffert with engaging in conduct alleged to be detrimental to the best interests of racing, the health and safety of horses and jockeys, and NYRA's business operations. Judge Sherwood sided with the NYRA on all charges.

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In a 54-page ruling, he wrote: “NYRA maintains [and the record shows] that Baffert has engaged in a pattern and practice of unlawful conduct that has no parallel in the modern history of thoroughbred racing. Over a 14-month period, racing regulators in three states found he violated drug regulations in seven different races. NYRA also proved each time Baffert was charged with a violation he provided an implausible excuse, and blamed others for conduct that he, as the trainer, was responsible for as a matter of law.

"NYRA has reasonably concluded that it will not condone Baffert’s reckless practices, outrageous behaviour and substance violations, each of which compromises the integrity of the sport.”

Sherwood went on to say the NYRA would be "risking the loss of public confidence" if it did not suspend Baffert.

“In NYRA’s judgement, imposition of forceful action in response to these violations will serve to reassure fans of the integrity of the sport and NYRA’s commitment to protect horses, jockeys and the betting public. NYRA’s actions will also reassure fans and bettors that the industry can and will police itself, take stern action when doping is found and protect horses from mistreatment," Sherwood wrote.

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"In NYRA’s reasonable judgement, a failure to suspend Baffert could result in public scandal and ultimately a decrease in spectatorship, loss of revenues to the State and NYRA’s racetracks, and even a decline of racing as a sport. I find that NYRA need not continue to suffer Baffert’s defaults and to bear the risk of loss of public confidence.

"The evidence establishes Baffert has engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the best interests of racing in that he has harmed the reputation and integrity of the sport, as well as public's perception of the sport's legitimacy."

Medina Spirit: disqualified from Kentucky Derby following post-race testsCredit: Benoit Photo

The suspension, which bars Baffert from entering or stabling horses anywhere on NYRA grounds, matches the two-year private property suspension he received last year from Churchill Downs Inc. from its racetracks following the post-race drug tests that revealed the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit had 21 picograms of the corticosteroid betamethasone in his system. The presence of betamethasone is prohibited in a horse's system on raceday in Kentucky.

Although Baffert is based in California where he has not been sanctioned and where he runs the majority of his horses, a lengthy NYRA suspension would bar him from prestigious races in New York that he has regularly targeted. He has won the Belmont Stakes three times, twice with Triple Crown-winning horses, and is also a three-time winner of the Travers Stakes.

Last month, the trainer landed the $12 million Dubai World Cup with Country Grammer for a syndicate of owners which included Medina Spirit's owner Amr Zedan, who said Baffert was "the best trainer that the sport has witnessed".

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