The Greatest of All Time - Bob Baffert

[Andy Asaro]

Statement from Dave O’Rourke, NYRA President & CEO on the Baffert Matter

“On May 17, 2021, at a time of crisis for the sport, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) took emergency action to temporarily suspend Bob Baffert from racing or training at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course. This measure was taken to protect the integrity of thoroughbred racing. NYRA will continue to honor that commitment so that fans, the betting public and racing participants can be confident in a level playing field.

“NYRA is reviewing the court’s decision today to determine our legal options and next steps. What is clear, however, is that Mr. Baffert’s actions and behavior can either elevate or damage the sport. We expect Mr. Baffert to exert appropriate controls over his operation.

"Importantly, the court upheld NYRA’s authority to exclude individuals from its racetracks whose conduct is contrary to the best interests of thoroughbred racing. The court also rejected Baffert’s argument that NYRA had no legal authority to take the action that it did.”

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

dilanesp pretty much nailed exactly what the judge said.

I wonder who he's going to bring and how the crowd is going to react if he actually shows up. My guess is that if he sends a few horses he will stay in CA.

It's worth understanding that NYRA has a particular disadvantage compared to other tracks and circuits that might want to ban Baffert- NYRA is part of the New York state government. (NYRA always denies this, but courts have consistently ruled against it on this issue.)

And this means that NYRA, unlike, e.g., Churchill, has to comply with the Constitution, which applies to government actors.

So when NYRA suspended Baffert, it had an obligation to give Baffert a post-deprivation hearing. It did not do so, and that is the apparent basis of the Court's ruling. But other tracks can just suspend him, unless their state's laws prohibit it.

At the end of the day, the onus is back on the KHRC. Everyone understands if they suspend him, the suspension will be honored by the other states. KHRC has to act.

[Andy Asaro]

There is no good reason for the KHRC to have not made a ruling yet. My gut tells me they may toss the positive test for reasons only they know. Maybe the Lab incompetence.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

It's worth understanding that NYRA has a particular disadvantage compared to other tracks and circuits that might want to ban Baffert- NYRA is part of the New York state government. (NYRA always denies this, but courts have consistently ruled against it on this issue.)

And this means that NYRA, unlike, e.g., Churchill, has to comply with the Constitution, which applies to government actors.

So when NYRA suspended Baffert, it had an obligation to give Baffert a post-deprivation hearing. It did not do so, and that is the apparent basis of the Court's ruling. But other tracks can just suspend him, unless their state's laws prohibit it.

At the end of the day, the onus is back on the KHRC. Everyone understands if they suspend him, the suspension will be honored by the other states. KHRC has to act.

I wonder what the status of the urine test is. That is likely the hold up.

https://www.si.com/horse-racing/2021...mple-for-tests

The whole thing may be an effort to run at Saratoga and DMR and then accept some kind of suspension in line with the infraction.

[cj]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

dilanesp pretty much nailed exactly what the judge said.

I wonder who he's going to bring and how the crowd is going to react if he actually shows up. My guess is that if he sends a few horses he will stay in CA.

I think it is 1-20 he doesn't show up.

[topgun]

Baffert,

The reason he don't have any success on the grass is the
fact that he really trains horses that are front runners or presser. I don't feel he is a great trainer, look at how many drug violation this clown has. Charlie Whittingham for me, then Bobby Frankel are better trainers....

[AskinHaskin]

Originally Posted by topgun

Baffert,

The reason he don't have any success on the grass is the
fact that he really trains horses that are front runners or presser.

Maybe hidden in there are clues as to why Aidan O'Brien is severely underperforming on dirt. He did win a graded stakes 20 years ago, so there's that.

[ReplayRandall]

Originally Posted by AskinHaskin

Maybe hidden in there are clues as to why Aidan O'Brien is severely underperforming on dirt. He did win a graded stakes 20 years ago, so there's that.

Everyone is a Specialist at something....Some great, some meh....It is what it is.

[taxicab]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

There is no good reason for the KHRC to have not made a ruling yet. My gut tells me they may toss the positive test for reasons only they know. Maybe the Lab incompetence.

I'm OK with the KHRC up to now.
I think they're going to wait for Baffert to play most of his hand........and then decide how hard they want to hit him.
Right now I think they're going to try and bury Baffert..........he's kind of asking for it.

[Cholly]

This:
https://www.wdrb.com/sports/crawford...a15db2127.html

up, down, whatever, just make a ****ing decision already, would you?
Like the guy says, "The allegations here may involve science, but it’s not rocket science."

[Psychotic Parakeet]

0-for-5 so far at Del Mar. Only one on-the-board finish. Seems suspiciously chilly.

[Elkchester Road]

Originally Posted by Psychotic Parakeet

0-for-5 so far at Del Mar. Only one on-the-board finish. Seems suspiciously chilly.

I am sure we will get clarification from one of the Baffert fanboys soon.

There is no way this can be caused by any additional scrutiny of the Baffert "operation". None whatsoever. There is also no reason that any of this scrutiny has been the cause of Owners shedding him as Trainer.

[Spalding No!]

Originally Posted by Psychotic Parakeet

0-for-5 so far at Del Mar. Only one on-the-board finish. Seems suspiciously chilly.

I wouldn't rush to conclusions on just those 5 starters from the first 2 days of the DM meet. He had a similar losing streak with something like his first 8 starters after the positive test was announced but it quickly evaporated.

So far at Del Mar he has sent a 3 bad favorites: a 2yo debuting in a maiden claimer (not a vote of confidence there), a 3yo coming off a layoff and facing older horses for the first time, and a 3yo facing winners, older horses, and routing all for the first time. Magic On Tap inexplicably was in the two-turn San Diego (presumably because Baffert lost his Gold Cup winner to Pletcher) when he just won a major sprint stakes, had bombed in his previous two turn stakes, and had the 6f Bing Crosby on the horizon. His other starter ran second in a 2yo maiden special weight, which is usually the focus for Baffert during the meet.

Meanwhile, since the Derby fiasco these are Baffert's stats:

15 wins from 51 starts (29%)
36 on-the-board from 51 starts (70%)
5 wins from 17 stakes starts (29%)

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by topgun

Baffert,

The reason he don't have any success on the grass is the
fact that he really trains horses that are front runners or presser. I don't feel he is a great trainer, look at how many drug violation this clown has. Charlie Whittingham for me, then Bobby Frankel are better trainers....

Training horses to be fundamentally perfect, relax and rate, draft, take dirt or kickback, show a quick response....
That is tough. And then you have to be fortunate enough to get a special horse, and fortunate enough to get a good setup.

It's a lot easier to do what some of these owners and trainers do.


Occasionally dirt as well, you'll find a very high% owner or trainer with an entry who you can see that is going to have to sit a trip to win, and they will be a good bet against, because all they can do is sit a wide, uncovered trip and try to be 5 lengths best.

[cj]

https://www.horseracingnation.com/ne...ine_sample_123

The KHRC contended the depletion left it with unfairly limited resources to do its own testing. It alleged a "lack of candor and contemptuous conduct" by the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Laboratory and Medina Spirit's owner Zedan Racing Stables and trainer Bob Baffert.