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‘ Medina Spirit, whose commanding victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby helped to cement Bob Baffert as one of horse racing's most decorated trainers, was stripped of the race's title Monday, nine months after an investigation into a failed post-race drug test.
Medina Spirit's purse money for winning the Derby — about $1.86 million — must also be forfeited, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said in a ruling. In addition, Baffert will be suspended for 90 days from the sport beginning next month and must pay a $7,500 fine.
An attorney for Baffert said he planned to appeal the decision.
Mandaloun, who placed second at the 147th running of the Derby, which is held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, was named the race's official winner.
In a statement, Churchill Downs did not address the commission's decision, but congratulated Mandaloun's trainer, Brad Cox, and jockey, Florent Geroux. ‘
"Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting achievements in sports and we look forward to celebrating Mandaloun on a future date in a way that is fitting of this rare distinction," officials at the horse racing complex said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna17092
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btfc wrote: Baffert will be suspended for 90 days from the sport beginning next month and must pay a $7,500 fine.
He'd pay the $7500 and be done with it, but he doesn't use cash and his banks don't open their doors for less than a million bucks.
Maybe his limo driver can lend it to him.
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I knew a guy who dabbled in both motorcycle racing and horse racing.
He said, hands down, there was more cheating in horse racing than there was racing bikes. Significantly more.
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I don’t wager on these things so pardon the ignorant question. Does this change the official pari-mutuel betting winnings and losses?
This is what I found on espn.com
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regulations state that: "Payments of valid pari-mutuel tickets shall be made on the basis of the order of finish as declared 'official' by the stewards or judges. A subsequent change in the order of finish or award of purse money that may result from a subsequent ruling by the stewards, judges, or commission shall not affect the pari-mutuel payout."
Approximately $155.4 million was bet on the Kentucky Derby pari-mutuel pool. An estimated $11 million to $12 million was bet on Medina Spirit, based on his odds to win (12-1). An estimated $3 million to $4 million was staked on Mandaloun, who went off at 26-1.
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From the original link:
‘ It's highly unlikely that anything can be done to claw back winnings already paid to fans who bet on Medina Spirit. It's equally unlikely that backers of Mandaloun — or any other horse who would have finished one place higher if not for Medina Spirit — will be compensated for their losing tickets.
When asked if Mandaloun bettors could ever prevail in a legal challenge, Louisville attorney Robert Heleringer bluntly responded: "No, sir. No possibility whatsoever."
Once races are declared official, those results — in terms of betting — are set in stone, according to Heleringer, author of "Equine Regulatory Law."
"It's just one of many risks any bettor, at the track or online, assumes when they put their money down," said Heleringer, who teaches equine regulatory law at the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law. ‘
I’m curious if a lawsuit from a Las Vegas sports betting operation, for example, could go anywhere.
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The L.A. Times story I read earlier today had this to say:
With the disqualification, Mandaloun becomes the winner. However, there will be no refunds or payouts for anyone who bet on the horse. As for bettors, a class-action suit was filed and is working its way forward in the courts.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/202...-derby-win
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Much more informative article, thanks!
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The worst part of this story is that the poor horsey died of a heart attack in December. Screw the humans…
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Yoyodyne ArtWorks wrote:
The worst part of this story is that the poor horsey died of a heart attack in December. Screw the humans…
My impression is that the owners and trainers acted like the heart attack was out of the blue and had nothing to do with them allegedly doping up the horse with PED. It’s like those WEE wrestlers and body builders that abuse steroids, have severe heart ailments, then blame random heart attack. Medina Spirit wasn’t some out of shape
old horse. It would be like a top 100mm sprinter in the world with barely an ounce of fat dropping dead. It would be highly suspicious.
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I am waiting for a horse that will someday be trained to say, “I did not knowingly take performance enhancing drugs”.
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