Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher are two renowned horse racing trainers who now sit in the Hall of Fame. Although their horses have won numerous elite races, the authenticity of some of their competing horses is questionable.
Baffert and Pletcher both learned how to train horses from their fathers and attended the University of Arizona’s Racetrack before starting their careers in horse training.
Baffert and Pletcher became grew to fame when the use of performance drugs was widespread and unregulated. However, stricter rules for horse racing have recently been established.
In the last 11 months, Pletcher’s horses have failed six drug tests in three states, according to articles in the New York Times and two people familiar with the matter.
Baffert also has a record of violations. Over the past four decades, his horses have failed 30 drug tests. One notable case was when his horse, Medina Spirit, won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified after failing a drug test for a banned drug. The horse was the second horse in the Kentucky Derby’s 149-year history to have a victory revoked because of a drug violation.
Pletcher and Baffert have both refused to comment on the drug violations during the past 11 months.
This week, 12 horses were found dead at Churchill Downs, a racecourse in Kentucky, prompting many animal activists to try to ban horse racing altogether. As a result, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which was created to prevent and punish those who have doped their horses, enforced more safety and drug rules.
James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of the Jockey Club, says, “We’ve got to get past the point at which we rock from crisis to crisis and prove to the public that those responsible for the conduct of the sport are doing so with the highest possible standards of integrity and safety.”
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/sports/horse-racing/09baffert-pletcher-horse-racing.html
Baffert and Pletcher both learned how to train horses from their fathers and attended the University of Arizona’s Racetrack before starting their careers in horse training.
Baffert and Pletcher became grew to fame when the use of performance drugs was widespread and unregulated. However, stricter rules for horse racing have recently been established.
In the last 11 months, Pletcher’s horses have failed six drug tests in three states, according to articles in the New York Times and two people familiar with the matter.
Baffert also has a record of violations. Over the past four decades, his horses have failed 30 drug tests. One notable case was when his horse, Medina Spirit, won the 2021 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified after failing a drug test for a banned drug. The horse was the second horse in the Kentucky Derby’s 149-year history to have a victory revoked because of a drug violation.
Pletcher and Baffert have both refused to comment on the drug violations during the past 11 months.
This week, 12 horses were found dead at Churchill Downs, a racecourse in Kentucky, prompting many animal activists to try to ban horse racing altogether. As a result, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which was created to prevent and punish those who have doped their horses, enforced more safety and drug rules.
James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of the Jockey Club, says, “We’ve got to get past the point at which we rock from crisis to crisis and prove to the public that those responsible for the conduct of the sport are doing so with the highest possible standards of integrity and safety.”
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/sports/horse-racing/09baffert-pletcher-horse-racing.html
