Tag: The Biz

The following statement was issued by 1/ST Racing, which operates Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., concerning the 90-day suspension of trainer Bob Baffert for a betamethasone positive test in Medina Spirit following the horse's first-place finish in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The suspension goes into effect on Monday, April 4, after the Kentucky Court of Appeals opted not to issue an emergency stay of the ban that had been requested by Baffert's attorneys.

The California Horse Racing Board announced on Saturday, April 2 that “[trainer Bob Baffert is now suspended pursuant to CHRB Rule 1484].”  California has thus reciprocated the suspension against Bob Baffert imposed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which will begin on April 4, 2022.  Because of the CHRB's ruling, any trainer on the grounds at Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, San Luis Rey Downs or Los Alamitos Race Course who may be the transferee of horses from the Baffert barn will be required to apply for stalls for those horses from the Santa Anita or Golden Gate Fields racing offices, as applicable, for review and approval.  A Change of Trainer form will also be required to be submitted in order to enter races following such transfer.  Horses that are not transferred to a trainer in California will be required to leave the grounds prior to April 4.

Because the suspension is over 60 days, under CHRB rules, during the term of the suspension Mr. Baffert will be banned from all enclosures under the jurisdiction of the CHRB and Mr. Baffert shall not be permitted to be involved in the training of horses who have previously been under his care.  Any trainer who may apply for stalls in anticipation of a transfer will be required to comply fully with any applicable restrictions.

The CHRB rules require Baffert to vacate his barn at Santa Anita Park prior to the start of the suspension on April 4, along with removing all signage, colors and training equipment belonging to the trainer.  The closing day of Santa Anita's winter-spring season on June 19, 2022.  The 90-day suspension from the KHRC concludes the following week.

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The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) reached significant milestones this week with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approving the proposed Enforcement and Methodology Assessment Rules in addition to the distribution of the 2022 cost assessments to state racing commissions. As the July 1, 2022, program effective date for the Racetrack Safety Program approaches, these developments are the latest steps forward in HISA's mission to make racing safer and protect the integrity of the sport through uniform rules, enforcement mechanisms and accreditation standards.

“These developments bring us closer to fulfilling our mandate to protect the wellbeing of both horse and rider through uniform rules and accreditation standards,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “The Racetrack Safety Program will expand veterinary oversight, impose surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhance jockey safety and implement voided claim rules, among other important measures that will go into effect on July 1.”

The Enforcement Rule (8000 Series) describes a range of violations and civil sanctions, establishes procedures for disciplinary and racetrack accreditation hearings, and grants the Authority necessary investigatory powers. Its approval by the FTC indicates that the rules meet the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act's (the Act) requirement to define violations and provide for adequate due process, including impartial hearing officers or tribunals commensurate with the seriousness of the alleged violation. In developing these rules, the Authority relied to a great extent upon rules governing horseracing as they currently exist in most states.

The annual assessments that state racing commissions are receiving today were determined by the FTC approved Methodology Assessment Rule (8500 Series), which outlines a process designed to ensure fairness and equity across thoroughbred racing jurisdictions. The cost calculations represent each state's proportionate share of HISA's 2022 budget as required under the Act. Under the rule, HISA calculated 50% of each state racing commission's cost according to the total number of starts in covered races and the remaining half based on starts weighted for purses in covered races.

It is HISA's intention to work with relevant stakeholders on an ongoing basis to evolve and improve the rules as more data become available and as circumstances dictate.

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The Kentucky Court of Appeals has denied Bob Baffert's motion for an emergency stay of the 90-day suspension handed down by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News, meaning the trainer's suspension will begin on Monday, April 4.

Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate issued a ruling on March 21 siding with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and denying Baffert's bid to overturn the commission's refusal to issue a stay of his suspension, leading Baffert to his filing for an emergency stay with the state's Court of Appeals.

The denial of that stay, signed by Acting Chief Judge Allison Jones, states in part: “Having carefully reviewed the record in conjunction with the applicable statutes and regulations, the Court concludes that the statutory right to appeal to circuit court pursuant to KRS 230 320(2)(f) provides an adequate remedy at law, such that equitable forms of relief, including the requested emergency stay, are presently unavailable. There can be no irreparable injury where, as here, the General Assembly has provided adequate administrative remedies.”

This decision is separate from the civil lawsuit Baffert filed against Churchill Downs, Inc., on Feb. 28, 2022, in an attempt to halt the company's ban on his trainees from stalls or entries, including its ban of his horses from the 2022 and 2023 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks races.

Baffert-trained horses have been ineligible to earn points on either the Road to the Kentucky Derby or the Road to the Kentucky Oaks owing to Churchill Downs' two-year suspension of the Hall of Fame trainer from its properties. The suspension stems from a medication violation involving his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who was officially disqualified from that win on Feb. 21, 2022.

Baffert was handed the 90-day suspension by the KHRC as a result of the disqualification of Medina Spirit, which, per Judge Wingate's March 21 ruling, is scheduled to begin on April 4.

The 90-day suspension would be reciprocated by other states, and per California regulation, could require Baffert to remove his signage and equipment from his barns at his home base at Santa Anita Park and send horses to be conditioned by someone other than his assistant training staff.

According to the TDN, the process of removing Baffert's signage and equipment from Santa Anita had already begun on Friday afternoon.

A trio of Kentucky Derby hopefuls were also transferred from Baffert to his former assistant Tim Yakteen last week: Messier, Doppelganger, and McLaren Vale. A fourth, Blackadder, was transferred to Rodolphe Brisset.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Appellate Court Denies Baffert’s Motion For Emergency Stay; Trainer’s Suspension To Begin April 4 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., plans to have a brand new turf course in place for the start of this fall's Championship Meet, reports the Daily Racing Form. In addition, the South Florida track will revert to a traditional “beam” timing system with Gmax's GPS tracking.

The new timing system should be ready to go in June, and renovations to the turf will start on June 13. The project is projected to cost $3 million.

“We're going to completely remove all of the turf course, put in a brand new one that will also be widened another 14 feet on the inside,” said Aidan Butler, 1/ST chief operating officer.

“It will have a new irrigation system, and we'll also be tweaking the drainage as well. Our best-case scenario is to have this done within 2 1/2 to three months, although it's Florida and we can't control acts of God. We are committed to being as patient as we need. We're not going to rush things, because if this kind of thing is not properly done now, you're always going to pay for it later.”

Over the summer, Gulfstream's newly-installed Tapeta course will be used alongside the dirt main track.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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