NYRA: Bob Baffert’s Hearing Scheduled To Begin Jan. 24

The official hearing for Bob Baffert's potential suspension from New York Racing Association tracks will begin on Jan. 24, reports the Daily Racing Form. That date was decided during Monday's initial meeting between NYRA and Baffert's attorneys, which was presided over by O. Peter Sherwood, the retired New York State Supreme Court justice serving as a NYRA-appointed hearing officer.

NYRA issued a statement of charges against Baffert and fellow trainer Marcus Vitali on Sept. 10, and initially scheduled a hearing for Baffert to begin on Sept. 27. However, that hearing was delayed until Oct. 11 as Baffert's attorney requested additional time. Baffert was not expected to participate during Monday's meeting, because it was convened only to schedule future dates and deadlines.

NYRA had notified Baffert ahead of the Belmont Stakes that it was suspending his ability to enter horses in races or have stall space at its racetracks due to his recent history of medication violations (five over a one-year period), the conflicting statements he provided to media around the Medina Spirit scandal, and Churchill Downs' suspension of the trainer.

Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the Eastern District of New York determined that NYRA's suspension of Baffert should not have taken place without some sort of hearing allowing him to address the organization's accusations against him. Although NYRA was asserting its private property rights in the case, Amon said the organization is closely entwined enough with the state that its suspension of Baffert constituted a state action, thereby requiring due process.

The upcoming hearing process, laid out by NYRA in it's official statement on Sept. 10, is not expected to be brief. The hearing may last several days, and Sherwood is not required to issue his post-hearing report with recommendations within a specific period of time.

Once that report has been issued, a panel will review it and issue a final decision within 10 days.