A federal judge in the Western District of Kentucky has dismissed the lawsuit filed by horse trainer Bob Baffert against Churchill Downs.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings granted the motion for summary judgment on Wednesday, resulting in the dismissal of Churchill Downs, William C. Carstanjen, and R. Alex Rankin from the case, according to court records.
Bob Baffert filed the lawsuit against Churchill Downs after being banned from the track following the disqualification of Medina Spirit, the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The disqualification came after a post-race blood test revealed the presence of betamethasone, a drug that is legal as a therapeutic aid but is prohibited on race day due to its potential performance-enhancing effects.
Unfortunately, Medina Spirit passed away in December 2021 after a workout.
Churchill Downs had suspended Baffert for the 2023 Spring Meet, which included the 2022 and 2023 Kentucky Derbys, due to five drug violations within the previous 12 months, as reported previously.
In February, Judge Jennings denied Baffert’s request to participate in this year’s race, stating that he had not suffered “irreparable harm,” a requirement for receiving a preliminary injunction.
At the time, Churchill Downs hailed the ruling as a victory for the integrity of horseracing.
