Kentucky Derby was clouded in controversy after legendary trainer was banned by Churchill Downs for the third year in a row

The Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, but it won’t be at full strength without a certain legend on the field.

Churchill Downs will lose a Bob Baffert-trained horse for the third year in a row after his ban was extended for another year.

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Every year, 20 of the world’s best three-year-old horses line up to race around Churchill Downs for victory in the Kentucky Derby.

However, this year the race is losing some of the best horses thanks to Baffert’s ban.

Baffert is a legendary horse trainer and arguably the best Derby trainer currently in horse racing.

His horses have won the Kentucky Derby six times, but he is still out of competition.

The ban dates back to his horse Medina Spirit’s 2021 Derby victory, which was later disqualified.

Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test, which tested positive for a banned drug on race day.

“Failure to comply with medication rules and protocols puts the safety of horses and jockeys, the integrity of our sport and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby and all who participate at risk,” Churchill Downs said in a statement at the time.

“Churchill Downs will not tolerate this.”

The horse was found to have 21 picograms of the steroid betamethasone, twice the legal limit.

In Kentucky, betamethasone is a Class C penalized substance, meaning it has “less potential to influence performance.”

At the time, the victory was the seventh of Baffert’s career, but it did not hold up after further testing.

Medina Spirit was disqualified in February 2022, almost a year after the race took place.

“Today Churchill Downs recognizes Mandaloun as the winner of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby and extends our congratulations to owner/breeder Juddmonte, trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux,” said a statement from Churchill Downs.

“Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the sport’s most exciting achievements and we look forward to celebrating Mandaloun at a future date in a way that fits this rare distinction.”

Baffert’s lawyers fought hard to overturn the ruling, claiming the positive test result came from Otomax antifungal ointment for a skin condition.

“The outcome should have been clear,” said Baffert’s attorney, Clark Brewster.

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“Betamethasone valerate is a permitted substance that can be administered to horses. It was not injected.

“And it was administered under the direction of a veterinarian, who simultaneously reported this treatment to a national database accessible to KHRC prior to the Kentucky Derby. There was no rule violation.”

As the lawyers argued their case, other evidence showed that horses trained by Baffert continually tested positive for banned substances.

Five were captured within a year, starting in May 2020.

The infractions, especially on horse racing’s biggest stage at Churchill Downs, led to Baffert being banned from the Derby for two years, but his ban was extended to include this year as well.

“Mr. Baffert continues to peddle a false narrative about Medina Spirit’s failed drug test,” Churchill Downs said in a statement.

If Baffert had been allowed to compete, his horse Muth would have been among the top three favorites to win after winning the Arkansas Derby.

Instead, he will be sidelined while Baffert continues to serve his ban.

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