Bob Baffert says Churchill Downs’ statement, Medina Spirit’s failed drug test a result of ‘cancel culture’
“Terminate culture” is at the heart of Medina Spirit’s failed drug take a look at.
The winner (with an asterisk) of the 2021 Kentucky Derby failed a article-race drug take a look at, the most up-to-date in a string of controversies bordering the famed horse coach, and there are doubts whether the colt will run in this weekend’s Preakness Stakes.
When asked whether his horse would be working in the next leg of the horse racing Triple Crown, Baffert admitted he hadn’t heard something formal but, and he speedily pivoted to blame Churchill Downs’ assertion and the horse’s failed take a look at on a “unique The us” and “terminate culture.”
I haven’t heard something formally, they haven’t informed me something. I know when Churchill Downs came out with that assertion, that was very harsh. And I imagine they had a … I imagine … with all the sound heading out … we stay in a unique planet now, this America’s unique. It was like a terminate culture type of a factor, so they’re reviewing it. I haven’t been informed something. We are prepared to run.
A lot more: What you need to have to know about Medina Spirit’s failed drug take a look at, suspension
Baffert is the coach of two Triple Crown-successful horses: American Pharaoh in 2015 and Justify in 2018. The failed drug test is nothing at all new for Baffert-experienced horses: In overall, 30 of Baffert’s horses have failed drug assessments about the past 4 many years, with Medina Spirit the most up-to-date in queue.
Medina Spirit examined favourable for betamethasone, a steroid that is used to lower swelling in muscles and joints. In buy for Medina Spirit to be disqualified, the horse will have to are unsuccessful yet another drug take a look at, the effects of which may well not be accessible for a selection of weeks.
If the disqualification stands, this may possibly be the very first time in human history a horse has been “canceled”.
