The polarizing Bob Baffert is coming to Pimlico for The Preakness. Can he win it for the ninth time?
by John Furgele (The Non-Polarizing 228)
In 2015, he was beloved, and was anybody not rooting for him and the horse? The horse was American Pharoah and the trainer was Bob Baffert. The horse looked like the real deal. Those that watched him win with ease in the slop in the Arkansas Derby were not surprised when the colt won the Kentucky Derby. The trainer, with that distinguishable white hair was considered the game’s best and was affable when interviewed by a press that wanted to see a drought end.
Two weeks later, he put on a surreal performance in the Preakness. With storm clouds coming, the colt went through six furlongs in 1:11 and change, and then, shut things down to cruise to victory and save something for the Belmont. Anybody who watched was thinking the same thing: this horse is going to win the Triple Crown.
When American Pharoah came to New York for the Belmont Stakes, he and his trainer were trying to break that aforementioned drought. Not since 1978 had a horse won it and many thought it was too tough to do, but now we had a celebrity horse and the game’s top trainer.
In the 1970s, it seemed like winning the Triple Crown wasn’t impossible. After Secretariat did it in 1973 (breaking a 25-year drought), it was done twice in a row by Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978.
In 1979, Spectacular Bid came to New York looking for the threepeat, but that’s when Big Sandy (the Belmont track nickname) put her foot down and said “no more.” Bid finished third and a 37-year drought began.
If you follow horse racing even a little bit, you know the Baffert story. He started in the game training quarter horses before coming to the thoroughbred side. Twice he had come close to winning the Triple Crown. In 1997, Silver Charm was beaten by Touch Gold in the last 100 yards and in 1998; it took a photo to determine that Victory Gallop had edged out Real Quiet.
Some think Baffert is cocky, irreverent, and aloof. He may be all that, but there is one thing he does and does well—win.
Horse racing is the Sport of Kings and is dominated by wealthy people with massive egos who are looking for diversions. Some buy fancy cars, some travel the world, some have world-class yachts. Others buy horses and race them.
Horses are expensive, and while some cost thousands, many cost millions. Once you buy one, you have to find a trainer to get them ready to race, first as a 2-year old and then, the magical 3-year old campaign. The dream of every high stakes owner is to run their horse in the Kentucky Derby.
Baffert is a guy that the billionaires trust. They buy the horse and give it to Baffert to train. Not all trainers focus on Triple Crown races, but Baffert does. So, if you’re a wealthy businessman like Mike Pegram or the late Bob Lewis, and want to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and/or the Belmont, Baffert’s your guy.
His success—enormous. His horses have won 3,386 times and collected over $355 million in earnings. He has six Derby wins; eight Preakness; three Belmonts; three Travers; four Breeder’s Cup Classics; and three in the Kentucky Oaks.
If you buy a horse and want to win a big stakes race, why wouldn’t you consider Baffert as your trainer? All trainers have one thing in common—if their horses aren’t healthy, they can’t race, and if they can’t race, they can’t make money. And, for those that spend millions to buy and support them, that’s not a good thing.
We know that trainers cheat, or at the very least, flirt with it. Most believe that when the 20 horses reach the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, they’re all numb to ensure that they can give their all in that 1 ¼ mile race. Baffert is not alone here, but because he’s the most recognizable, he gets a lot of the scrutiny.
The Horse Racing Integrity Safety Authority (HISA) was created in 2020 to regulate all forms of horse racing. Its main objective is to clean up the sport, to make sure horses are as sound as possible before training and racing.
Both the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and the United States Trotting Association (USTA; harness racing) oppose it and have fought its legitimacy.
What does that tell you? On one hand, we have a body that is trying to protect both thoroughbreds and Standardbreds and on the other hand, the two major racing associations don’t like it and don’t want it.
The reason is simple. If trainers can’t give their horses medications, they can’t race and if they can’t race, the sport dies on the vine. The USTA has opposed HISA every step of the way, saying that it goes too far and that they already have strong regulations in place. That’s just their way of saying that we need you to look the other way so we can have enough horses to race so we can make money.
By being the biggest name in the sport, Baffert was perhaps the easiest target. When Medina Spirit tested positive after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby, the battle began. After testing positive for betamethasone, it was eventually disqualified and stripped of that Derby win.
Ironically, the drug is permitted for horses, but requires a 14-day withdrawal period. The horse can still have it in its system on race day as long as it’s under a measurable limit. Medina Spirit’s level was just over the allowed limit.
Churchill Downs (CDI) then went on the attack. They wanted to show everybody that cleaning up the sport was important, so they went to court to have the win taken away and to ban Baffert from running his horses at any Churchill Downs owned facility.
The courts have agreed with CDI and Baffert hasn’t run a horse in the Derby in three years. There are many who believe that if Baffert had taken responsibility, showed contrition, and did a Mark McGwire, he’d be back racing at CDI tracks and most importantly, the Kentucky Derby.
That hasn’t happened. Both Baffert and CDI have dug in and while many think Baffert will be allowed to come to Louisville in 2025, it’s not guaranteed.
It didn’t help Baffert when Medina Spirit died of a heart attack in Dec. 2021 after completing a five-furlong workout. Though the necropsy showed no evidence of doping, the Baffert haters believed that was indeed, the cause.
There is one thing that’s common with successful wealthy people and corporations: arrogance. Baffert has it and so too, does Churchill Downs Incorporated. One was too proud to admit that he doped some horses; the other too proud to allow that trainer back in without a confession.
In 2015, people loved Baffert because he gave America a Triple Crown winner. Three years later, he did it again with Justify, but by that time, America wasn’t as energized. They had just seen it done and reports of Baffert and doping had surfaced.
Suddenly, the white haired trainer was not as revered and when it was reported that Justify failed a doping test after winning the Santa Anita Derby (months after the race, mind you), his reputation became further sullied.
In a sport where doping remains alive and well, Baffert wears the black hat. He’s not the only one, but he’s the one with the target on his back.
Baffert will be at the Preakness this Saturday in Baltimore, welcomed by the Stronach Group, the owners of the Preakness. He trains Muth, who many said would have been the Derby favorite if allowed to run. He trains Imagination, the second place finisher to Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby and fresh off two excellent six-furlong works in 1:11 and change.
If Baffert wins the Preakness for the ninth time, what will the reaction be? It would make for delicious theatre, wouldn’t it? Sports are at their best when there’s a villain and right now, Baffert—fairly or not—is that villain.
We shall see how things shake out at Old Hilltop this Saturday.