'I take pride in running a tight ship' - Baffert testifies as hearing continues

Bob Baffert said the whole situation surrounding Kentucky Derby winner's Medina Spirit positive drug test was "horrible" when he testified on day four of the case instigated by the New York Racing Association, which is seeking suspension of the Hall of Fame trainer's licence.

Called to the stand by his attorney Craig Robertson on Thursday, Baffert said he trained without a drug positive in New York for decades and was never questioned about any out-of-state drug positive until after Medina Spirit's victory at Churchill Downs in May 2021.

Baffert related how he lost his usual cool after Medina Spirit tested positive. He said he held a press conference in front of his barn and the next day went on a round of television interviews when he said some things he regrets.

He said: "I was upset. This is the greatest race in America, and that horse ran his heart out. I felt like I owed it to the owner, and I wanted people to know something was wrong."

Medina Spirit (right) wins the 2021 Kentucky DerbyCredit: Rob Carr

Baffert denied Medina Spirit was injected during his media tour, and admitted he said in one of the TV interviews "no one who handled the horse had any creams or anything like that, so we just don't know where it came from".

Now, Baffert says, it is his understanding the test results of a urine sample tested in New York proved the betamethasone came from an ointment called Otomax used for the skin rash.

Under questioning on cross-examination by NYRA attorney Henry Greenberg, Baffert said: "I take pride in running a tight ship and know the rules in every state."

However, it was revealed Baffert did not realise the Kentucky threshold for betamethasone had changed from ten picograms per millilitre to detection level a week before Gamine tested positive after the Oaks – but he did know the 14-day window and it was observed.

Baffert said he had been harmed professionally and personally by events, but acknowledged racing had also been negatively affected. Greenberg emphasised that Baffert bears responsibility for making sure that nothing like betamethasone in any form got "within a million miles" of Medina Spirit so that the "terrible cloud" would not be cast over the Kentucky Derby. In response, Baffert admitted the whole situation was "horrible".

Following that exchange, it was revealed a Kentucky stewards hearing on the Medina Spirit case is set for February 7, and the hearing was adjourned for the day.

Read more on the Bob Baffert hearing:

Riding legends Smith and Velazquez stand by Bob Baffert as hearing continues

Baffert hearing: expert says dosage could have improved Medina performance

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