Soap operas like this don't do US racing any good, just like having a horse test positive for a banned substance in the Kentucky Derby doesn't do racing any good, either.

So next time a Baffert horse wins a stakes race, how many split samples do they need?  I'd say at least 4.

Samples 1 and 2 so that if #1 is positive the state's lab can test #2 to make sure it's the same.  If both are positive:

Sample 3 goes to Baffert's lawyers so they can come up with their own rigged test.

Sample 4 goes to the IOC or FEI or some other international organization, independent of the racing industry (preferably not in North America), so they can test it.

Oh yes, the above isn't just urine.  Also take blood, saliva, and hair samples (4 each).  

Excellent post, Tex.  I bow north.  :-}

Maybe some progress....

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/NYRA-can-start-process-to-suspend-Bob-Baffert-16510846.php

One step better for NYRA than nothing, so far.  As you say, it's possible there will be consequences for the ever slick Beta Bob.

If he can beat this through the courts that sends a bad message to all the cheaters that they should carry on. 

Imagine how much worse steroid use in the Olympics would be if athletes (or their national Olympic associations) can just get their lawyers to overturn positive drug tests at will.

I think you're exactly right.

Where is the line between the important right of due process and weaponizing the system to avoid consequences?

TexSquared said...

If he can beat this through the courts that sends a bad message to all the cheaters that they should carry on. 

This merely confirms that U.S. racing is incapable of timely decision-making, and can barely even stick with their own regulatory decisions and protocols anymore.

Dancer's Image was DQed in 3 days.  A yes/no on Medina Spirt's DQ and Baffert's licensing/trainig privileges at other tracks should be 2 separate issues, and the former should have already been decided, based on 2 positives.  

What we should all be more worried about is that Medina Spirit makes it to retirement "in one peice."     Based on what I've seen from Baffert, that's even more of a gamble than what will happen to this horse's KY Derby win, IMHO.   He's a neat horse and deserves the best of everything for his efforts. 

  

Medina Spirit's owner probably wants to win the Classic then if not retire right away, go for the Saudi Cup and/or Dubai, especially since there hasn't been any announcement on breeding rights.  

Wasn't Dancer's Image's DQ dragged through the courts for 4 years before his owners had exhausted all possible chances to overturn it?   I hope this doesn't drag on that long.   

I agree with you that the two issues are separate.  The horse should have been DQ'ed first and purse money redistributed long before penalizing Baffert with suspensions/fines/etc.   Let's consider careless riding - the horse is DQ'ed on race day, but the stewards hand down penalties to the jockey days later after a proper hearing.   They don't suspend the jockey and then take their sweet time with deciding the race result.

TexSquared said...

Wasn't Dancer's Image's DQ dragged through the courts for 4 years before his owners had exhausted all possible chances to overturn it? 

AFTER he was DQed

That was my whole the whole point.   The decision was made w/in 3 days.   Then they litigated afterwards for 3-4 years.