Medina Spirit stripped of 2021 Kentucky Derby victory

Huge news broke out of the horse racing world on Monday, as Medina Spirit was stripped of the title of 2021 Kentucky Derby victor. According to Joe Drape of The New York Times, Medina Spirit — who passed away unexpectedly last December — was officially disqualified by Kentucky racing officials on Monday due to a failed drug test after the race.

“Medina Spirit is only the third horse in the 147-year history of the race to receive such a penalty after finishing first,” added Drape. “The decision means the colt’s owner, Amr Zedan, will not collect the $1.8 million first-place check, which was never paid out and which now goes to Mandaloun’s owner, Juddmonte, the racing and breeding enterprise founded by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died last year.

“It also erases the Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s seventh Kentucky Derby victory, which was a record.”

Moreover, the aforementioned Baffert will face repercussions, as well. In addition to being stripped of his seventh Kentucky Derby victory, Baffert will have to pay a hefty fine, and serve a 90 day suspension.

“In addition, Baffert was suspended for 90 days beginning March 8 and fined $7,500,” wrote Drape. “The ruling followed a hearing via Zoom on Feb. 14 before a three-member panel of stewards for the Kentucky Horse Racing Association.”

More on Medina Spirit, 2021 Kentucky Derby

Furthermore, Drape detailed the drug that was found in the colt’s system that led to the stripping of the victory.

“The drug found in Medina Spirit’s system was betamethasone, a corticosteroid injected into joints to reduce pain and swelling,” wrote Drape. “Baffert and his lawyers denied injecting the colt and said the drug was applied topically to treat a skin rash on Medina Spirit’s hind end.”

Moreover, Baffert is one of the most recognizable names in the entire sport. However, he won’t be at the biggest race of the year — Drape mentions that Churchill Downs suspended Baffert from the race for the next two years.

“Churchill Downs, the track in Louisville, Ky., that hosts the Derby, has suspended Baffert from the race for two years and refused to award qualifying points to horses he trains,” wrote Drape. “He has three of the most accomplished 3-year-old colts in his barn — two of them, Corniche and Newgrange, are undefeated. If their owners want to participate in the Derby, they must transfer their horses to another trainer and hope to earn qualifying points in future prep races.”

As you can see, the decision to strip Medina Spirit of the 2021 Kentucky Derby has huge ramifications for Bob Baffert, and the sport as a whole.