Hall Of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert Returns To Kentucky Derby After 3-year Ban

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert is backmost astatine Churchill Downs and has entered a equine successful nan Kentucky Derby for nan first clip successful 3 years. His horse, Citizen Bull, is simply a 20-1 agelong changeable to triumph nan title connected Saturday, May 3.

Why was Bob Baffert banned by Churchill Downs?

Baffert ruled nan athletics for 30 years, becoming its astir successful trainer pinch a record-tying six Kentucky Derby-winning horses.  His first triumph came pinch Silver Charm successful 1997. He’s besides won racing’s triple crown twice, successful 2015 pinch American Pharoah and successful 2018 pinch Justify.

However, successful 2021, Baffert was banned by Churchill Downs, nan astir celebrated way successful nan world, aft his seventh Derby winner, Medina Spirit, tested affirmative for a banned substance. The equine was stripped of his title and six months later died of cardiac arrest. Baffert fought nan ban successful tribunal until yet accepting work successful July 2024. On Friday, April 25, aft his first Derby training convention successful 3 years, Baffert was asked if nan prohibition had changed him.  

“In racing, you person to judge erstwhile you get hit and you person to judge erstwhile things don’t spell right,” Baffert said. “And it was 1 of those things where, well, I can’t alteration it. When I don’t person immoderate power of it, I don’t interest astir it.”

Did nan prohibition thief alteration nan athletics of equine racing?

In 2021, galore fans, media members and moreover immoderate of Baffert’s chap trainers believed nan doping of horses was retired of control. The animals were dying astatine an alarming complaint and information protocols were acold excessively lax. 

The tragedies and scandals led to nan national government’s Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which created a governing body to oversee testing and information successful 2022. Baffert’s prohibition by Churchill Downs, earlier HISA was created, whitethorn person sent nan first connection that nary 1 is supra nan law.

Despite nan oversight, successful 2023, 12 horses died astatine Churchill Downs. A HISA investigation could not beryllium a nexus betwixt nan deaths and nan track. In 2024, nan number dropped to 6 horses. This year, 1 equine has been euthanized aft an wounded while training connected nan track.

Churchill Downs officials in installments nan declining numbers successful portion to adding much soil to nan track’s surface, on pinch an betterment successful veterinary devices to thief observe injuries sooner.  

Baffert’s first title upon his return ironically took spot astatine Churchill Downs. In November 2024, he watched his equine Barnes triumph his maiden race. The Hall of Fame trainer shook hands pinch nan man who handed down his ban, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen. Now that he’s backmost for nan Derby, what are his chances successful nan 151st Run for nan Roses?

“The concealed of maine winning each those Derbies is I brought [it], I won it pinch nan champion horse, you know, and I’ve mislaid it pinch nan champion horse,” Baffert said. “With 20 horses, you request a batch of luck.”

How galore horses does Baffert person successful nan field?

Baffert had 2 horses successful nan field, but precocious Thursday, May 1, had to scratch Rodriguez for what his squad called a mini but somewhat delicate ft bruise. This leaves Baffert pinch Citizen Bull, who hopes to break quickly from station position No. 1. If nan equine tin propulsion disconnected nan win, it would mean a record-breaking seventh Derby triumph for Baffert, adding a comeback for nan ages to his illustrious profession record.

“The Derby has ever been my top memories and ever will be, and it’s thing that, without nan Derby, equine racing would person a wholly different look,” Baffert said. “It’s getting bigger each year.”   

Of nan 19 horses that will commencement nan Derby, Saturday, May 3, the favourite is Journalism, who will spell disconnected astatine 3-1 aliases better, riding a four-race winning streak. The California-based equine has a favorable No. 8 station position that has tied for nan second-most victories successful nan Kentucky Derby.