Medina Spirit | Horse Racing Free Tips

Preakness Saturday Statement From Baffert: I Am ‘Truly Sorry’ For Handling Of Medina Spirit Scandal

The following statement was provided exclusively to NBC Sports by Bob Baffert. Baffert was asked to appear on Saturday's Preakness telecast, but declined on the advice of his legal team.

As Medina Spirit prepares to run in the Preakness Stakes today, I want to keep the focus on this amazing equine athlete and not me, which is the primary reason I will not personally be in attendance. I do not want to serve as a distraction to what has always been of paramount importance – the joy of this great sport and the horses that make it possible.

As I have stated from the beginning, there was never any attempt to game or cheat the system and Medina Spirit earned his Kentucky Derby win. While the presence of 21 picograms of an allowable therapeutic medication has yet to be confirmed by the split sample analysis, it would have nothing to do with Medina Spirit's hard earned and deserved win. That win was the result of the horse's tremendous heart and nothing else.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I acknowledge that I am not perfect and I could have better handled the initial announcement of this news. Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby win was so personally meaningful to me, and I had such a wonderful experience on May 1 at Churchill Downs, that when I got the news of the test results, it truly was the biggest gut punch I had ever received and I was devastated. That, coupled with the fact that I always try to be accommodating and transparent with the media, led to an emotional press conference on May 9 in which I said some things that have been perceived as hurtful to some in the industry. For that I am truly sorry. I have devoted my life's work to this great sport and I owe it, and those who make it possible, nothing but an eternal debt of gratitude.

For those who want an explanation for what transpired with Medina Spirit, I have tried to be open and transparent from the beginning. Our investigation is continuing and I don't have definitive answers at this point. What I do know is that neither my barn, nor my veterinarians, directly treated Medina Spirit with the anti-inflammatory medication betamethasone. Even though it is allowable, it is just not something we have ever used with this horse. The only possible explanation that we have uncovered to date – and I emphasize the word possible – is that betamethasone is an ingredient in a topical ointment that was being applied to Medina Spirit to treat a dermatitis skin condition he developed after the Santa Anita Derby.

I have been deeply saddened to see this case portrayed as a “doping” scandal or betamethasone labeled as a “banned” substance. Neither is remotely true. Betamethasone is an allowable and commonly used medication in horse racing. Further, 21 picograms would have zero pharmacology in a horse. All I ask is that everyone not rush to judgment and allow all of the facts, evidence and science to come to light.

Lastly, while this has been extremely hard and emotionally draining on me and my family, today is not about Bob Baffert. Instead it is about Medina Spirit and all of the other equine athletes in our tremendous sport. I hope that everyone will direct their attention to them and give them the love and respect they so richly deserve.

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NAARV Calls for Revision of Medication Thresholds

In a release authored by its Executive Director Erica Minks, the North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians (NAARV) is calling on the racing industry to adopt “rational thresholds” as they relate to post-race testing of racehorses. The release comes in the ongoing aftermath of Medina Spirit's positive test for betamethasone, which registered 21 picograms per milliliter.

“The North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians has advocated for rational and common-sense thresholds for therapeutic medications in racing horses since its inception in 2014,” the release says. “As recently as December 2020, NAARV, with the support of both the Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association and United States Trotting Association, proposed a 100 pg/mL threshold (more than four times the level identified in Medina Spirit) for betamethasone. That's because research has recently been published demonstrating that positives below this level can readily be achieved with the simple exposure of the horse to urine from a treated horse, or the many betamethasone-containing creams and sprays for topical use that are available for both humans and horses.

“There is no evidence that this level of betamethasone has any effect on horse performance, nor on the masking of pain. Picogram thresholds and zero-tolerance for therapeutic medications in this current environment, where a thousandth of a picogram can be detected by state-of-the-art testing equipment, are not relevant.

“It is time for the racing industry to follow the science and adopt rational thresholds. By focusing on insignificant levels of therapeutic medications, the regulators of our sport are depriving the industry of appropriate veterinary decision making, alarming the public and fans of horse racing, and creating an erroneous impression of dishonesty and exploitation. This must stop before it collapses the industry. It must stop for the sake of the horse.”

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Medina Spirit Passes All Tests to Run in Preakness

After undergoing three rounds of out-of-competition blood sample testing as part of an agreement between the Maryland Jockey Club and Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit (Protonico), Concert Tour (Street Sense) and Beautiful Gift (Medaglia d'Oro) have been reported clear and are eligible to race this weekend at Pimlico Race Course in the GI Preakness S. and GII Black-Eyed Susan S.

Two samples were drawn May 6 and May 10, respectively by the Maryland Racing Commission and were screened by Industrial Laboratories in Colorado. A third sample was drawn on May 11 by 1/ST RACING and MJC and screened by the University of California at Davis Maddy Laboratory.

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Pimlico: Last Two Tests On Medina Spirit Clear, Colt Is Cleared To Run

After undergoing three rounds of out-of-competition blood sample testing as part of the condition of entry agreement into Preakness 146 between the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and trainer Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit, Concert Tour and Beautiful Gift have been reported clear and are eligible to race this weekend at Pimlico Race Course.

Two samples were drawn on May 6 and May 10 by the Maryland Racing Commission and were screened by Industrial Laboratories in Colorado. A third sample was drawn on May 11 by 1/ST RACING and MJC and screened by the University of California at Davis Maddy Laboratory.

Beautiful Gift is entered into the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and Medina Spirit and Concert Tour in the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1).

Consistent with the fair procedures and practices established by 1/ST RACING and MJC, the additional tests and monitoring were conducted as part of the rigorous condition of entry agreement to ensure the fairness and integrity of the races with horses entered by Baffert.

All horses entered in both the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the 146^th Preakness Stakes will remain under veterinary observation and security surveillance.

To view a copy of the Maryland Jockey Club and Bob Baffert agreement, please click here.

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