Frankfort, Kentucky (AP) — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s lawyer said Thursday in a Kentucky court that a 90-day suspension imposed by the state horse racing committee would essentially end his career. Insisted.
Baffert has asked the judge to postpone the suspension due to the failure of the post-race drug test by Medina Spirit. Disqualification As the winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby.
Baffert’s lawyer argued that he should not be suspended until he had an opportunity to appeal with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The hearing is scheduled for April 18th. Baffert wasn’t in court on Thursday.
Baffert’s lawyer, Craig Robertson, said, “If he is now forced to suspend, and if he wins the appeal, he will never get back.” “A 90-day story about the entire Triple Crown” of horse racing, including Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, in May and June.
Robertson said the suspension would prevent Baffert from racing anywhere and would force him to dismantle his business.
Baffert too Sue Churchill DownsHome to the Kentucky Derby, has appeared in federal court to challenge the two-year suspension from Louisville Truck.
Judge Thomas Winngate of the Franklin Circuit Court said he would rule on Monday for requesting that Baffert’s suspension be postponed. Mr Wingate said whatever his decision was, it would certainly end in the State Court of Appeals.
A lawyer on Thursday’s Horse Racing Commission called Baffert’s act “unprecedented,” with four dosings per year, including two in Arkansas where Baffert paid a $ 10,000 fine. He said there was a breach.
“He committed a series of violations,” said lawyer Jennifer Walsing, and Baffert said, “there is a high risk of recidivism.”
Baffert claims that Medina Spirit’s steroids came from a topical ointment rather than a banned injection. However, horse racing officials said in court Thursday that the corticosteroid betamethasone was found on the horse’s system on race day, regardless of source, but this is not permitted.
Horse Racing Committee Rejected request from Baffert To delay his suspension earlier this month. The suspension was set to begin on March 8, but was postponed until Judge Wingate’s decision was made.
In February, Race Commission Steward suspended Baffert for 90 days with a $ 7,500 fine and disqualified Medina Spirit for containing the corticosteroid betamethasone in his system last May.
Medina Spirit died in December after Baffert said he had a heart attack after training. Autopsy did not reveal the definitive cause of his death.