Bob Baffert vs. Breeder’s Cup: Del Mar Looking into a Baffert Ban

The Breeder’s Cup is the most prestigious 2 days of horse racing anywhere in the world. The organization has officially stated that Bob Baffert is under review for the 2021 event. The review stems from failed drug tests earlier this year.

Significance of the Breeder’s Cup

The Breeder’s Cup is the premier horse racing event in North America, if not, the world. The 2 day racing festival features 14 official Breeder’s Cup races. These races have massive purses and can often play a major role in who wins Eclipse Awards. The Eclipse Awards are given out to the top horses and connections at the end of the calendar year.

Horses will ship from around the world to take place in the Breeder’s Cup. The 2021 running will take place at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in 2021. Along with money and awards a victory could help bolster the future breeding prospects of the participants.

Baffert in the Breeder’s Cup

Bob Baffert is one of the most decorated and recognizable figures in the sport of horse racing. Even casual fans recognize the trademark silver hair and sunglasses that has produced 2 Triple Crown winners this decade.

Bob Baffert has been no stranger to success at the Breeder’s Cup either. He currently holds the 2nd most wins all time. His 17 victories leave him just 3 off of hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas who currently has 20.

Although second in wins, Baffert does boast the highest purse earnings all time in Breeder’s Cup races. His nearly $36 million in Breeder’s Cup purse earnings have him over $9 million clear of the next top earner. Aidan O’Brien sits in second with a just a little over $26 million.

Needless to say, the Breeder’s Cup and Bob Baffert have been a good match for one another. In 2021, with the event returning to the West coast where Baffert keeps his string, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Baffert would play a major role in the event.

Baffert’s Failed Tests

2021 Kentucky Derby

Bob Baffert found himself in the news this year for all the wrong reasons. Not even 24 hours after saddling Medina Spirit to a stunning Kentucky Derby victory, it was reported that Baffert’s horse has tested positive for an illegal substance. A full recap of the immediate aftermath can be found in our previous piece entitled Kentucky Derby Winner Medina Spirit Tests Positive for Illegal Substance.

The Preakness Stakes

Since the original report a lot has happened for Baffert. Pimlico announced it would allow Baffert’s horses to run in the Preakness, but only upon passing additional pre race drug tests. The horses, including Medina Spirit, passed and ran. Medina Spirit finished third and Concert Tour finished 9th.

New York Racing Association

The New York Racing Association announced a ban on all Baffert horses including those entered under the name of an assistant trainer. This prompted several clients to shift horses away from the barn to retain eligibility at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

This ban was lifted over the summer as the judge felt the ruling was inconsistent with the fact that this type of ban had not been placed on other trainers with infractions in other jurisdictions. Despite the court order, Baffert had a limited presences toward the end of summer in New York.

Churchill Downs Inc.

A split sample was required to confirm the test. The result found that Baffert’s horse once again tested positive. Churchill Downs Inc. reported that Baffert would be denied entry to Churchill races and created a rule that essentially disqualified any horse trained by Baffert could not earn points to the Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby. His suspension will last 2 years.

The case of the Kentucky Derby is still being litigated with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. As of the writing of this piece Medina Spirit is still officially considered the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Historic Sanctions Against Baffert

High Profile Case

The reason such a big deal was made of Medina Spirit was two-fold. On the surface, the fact that it happened in the most watched race in America with such high profile connections allowed it transcend the horse racing world and move into the mainstream media.

This meant that every part of the story was dissected by pundits and subject to public opinion. Had this been a stakes race on a typical Saturday at Churchill Downs it would have been nothing more than a blip on the radar.

Baffert’s Checkered Past

The other aspect of the story is the fact that Baffert has unfortunately been the subject of these issues before. In his almost 40 years as a trainer he has been hit with at least 30 documented medications violations and/or overages. This includes two high profile issues in Arkansas when Gamine and Charlatan both had victories vacated due to positive tests.

In each case Baffert has had answers for why his horses tested for overages from skin creams to urine soaked feed hay to back patches worn by the assistant trainer. Many in the racing world, including Churchill Downs, have commented on the fact that these excuses are become too numerous and fantastical to continue.

"Given these repeated failures over the last year, including the increasingly extraordinary explanations, we firmly believe that asserting our rights to impose these measures is our duty and responsibility." Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc.

2021 Breeder’s Cup Review of Baffert

On September 18th, 2021 the Breeder’s Cup officially announced it would be launching a review into whether or not Baffert will be allowed to run in the event which takes place on November 5th and 6th at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

The review will be conducted to determine if Baffert falls under the umbrella of a clause that permits the Breeder’s Cup to bar entry from connections that have engaged in activity illegal, unethical, or detrimental to the sport.

The Breeder’s Cup has indicated that as part of the process Baffert will be permitted to state his case for entry. The entire process must be completed before October 25th when pre-entries for the world championships of racing close.