Skip to content

NYRA temporarily suspends Bob Baffert

Bloomberg / Getty

The New York Racing Association has temporarily suspended trainer Bob Baffert from entering horses in races or occupying stall space at Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Aqueduct Racetrack.

"In order to maintain a successful thoroughbred racing industry in New York, NYRA must protect the integrity of the sport for our fans, the betting public, and racing participants," NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said Monday. "That responsibility demands the action taken today in the best interests of thoroughbred racing."

The Baffert-trained horse Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone after winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. The investigation into Baffert and Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby win is ongoing.

The horse was subsequently allowed to participate in Saturday's Preakness Stakes after Baffert agreed to rigorous prerace testing. Medina Spirit finished third during the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown.

The suspension is due to both Medina Spirit's infraction, and other Baffert-trained horses recently failing drug tests, the NYRA states.

The length of the ban has yet to be determined, but Baffert likely won't be permitted to enter a horse into the Belmont Stakes on June 5 unless it's lifted soon.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox