Bob Baffert cannot run horses at Kentucky Derby
Trainer Bob Baffert’s attempt to run horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby was once again denied when a federal district court in Louisville, Ky., denied his request for a preliminary injunction. Baffert is currently serving a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after Medina Spirit tested positive for a legal medication, but not legal on race day, after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Baffert and owner Amr Zedan can appeal Friday’s decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. However, given the glacial nature of the legal system, it’s unclear whether that court would grant a temporary injunction while the case makes its way to be heard. Churchill Downs has placed a Feb. 28 deadline on when a horse can be transferred to another trainer should Baffert not be allowed to run.
Clark Brewster, the lead attorney for Baffert and Zedan, did not immediately respond to The Los Angeles Times.
Baffert transferred two of his best horses, Taiba and Messier, to his former assistant Tim Yakteen in late March of last year. Both ran in the Derby but were not a factor in the race. This year, Baffert has about five horses that could be Kentucky Derby contenders with two prep races yet to be run.
The case was heard by judge Rebecca Grady Jennings in the Western District of Kentucky. In the ruling, Grady Jennings wrote: “Plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden to demonstrate that the court should impose a preliminary injunction against CDI’s suspension. Accordingly, plaintiffs’ renewed motion for a preliminary injunction is denied.”
Grady Jennings was appointed to the U.S. District Court by former President Trump and approved by the Senate in April 2018. Her most notable ruling has been temporarily stopping a Kentucky law that bans abortions after 15 weeks.
Baffert’s attorneys gave six reasons the injunction should be granted. Grady Jennings dismissed five of them but did agree that Baffert was not granted a prompt post-suspension hearing, which would be required because CDI is viewed as “state actor.”
CDI issued the following statement: “Churchill Downs is pleased that the Court denied Mr. Baffert’s demand for a preliminary injunction and granted
our motion to dismiss on all but one claim, and on that claim the Court held that Mr. Baffert did not establish a likelihood of success on the merits. [Friday’s] opinion is a victory for the integrity of horse racing and we will continue to take action to protect the safety of our human and equine athletes.”
Baffert did serve a 90-day suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission last year, which excluded him from racing in all jurisdictions including California.
There is another, yet separate, hearing with the KHRC on March 1 to address the eventual disqualification of Medina Spirit.
The relationship between Baffert’s attorneys and Grady Jennings has been contentious. The parties had agreed that each side would get two hours for an opening statement, witness testimony and a closing statement. But, on the first day of the hearing on Feb. 2, Brewster used all his time on the opening statement. That agreement was amended and the hearing lasted two days.
On Feb. 6, Brewster accused the judge of having first charged the judge with having an “ex parte” discussion with Churchill Downs without Brewster’s involvement. It was later agreed that no such discussion took place.
After the hearing, Brewster also charged the judge with having a conflict of interest, as her husband was given a consultant job with The Jockey Club after she was assigned the case. The Jockey Club is not a party to this litigation but has been critical of Baffert in the past. Brady Jennings did not recuse herself and the matter was essentially dropped.