Churchill Downs Inc. agrees to dates for federal Baffert hearing
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Churchill Downs Inc. agreed to possible dates for a hearing in trainer Bob Baffert’s federal lawsuit against the company. CDI submitted a response to a Baffert filing on Tuesday, telling judge Rebecca Grady Jennings its attorneys are available for a hearing on April 13 or 14, or at a later date.
The company’s filing said it will file a full response to Baffert’s lawsuit on Tuesday. CDI defended its 2-year-suspension of Baffert, which it handed out following the late Medina Spirit’s positive drug test after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
“Defendant (CDI) acted to protect the safety of its human and equine athletes, and to preserve public confidence in the integrity of horse racing and the Kentucky Derby itself, by exercising its right to suspend the horse’s trainer, Plaintiff Bob Baffert, from involvement in races on its race courses,” the filing said. “Now, ten months later, Baffert has moved for a preliminary injunction enjoining his suspension and asked this Court to expedite the briefing and set a hearing on his motion.”
The filing also noted Baffert was recently denied a stay of his 90-day suspension by judge Thomas Wingate of Kentucky’s Franklin Circuit Court, a ruling the trainer has since appealed. CDI claimed that suspension could make the federal court’s ruling a moot point.
That suspension is scheduled to begin on April 4.
“The proceedings before Judge Wingate are relevant to Baffert’s claimed need for a prompt hearing because if the KHRC suspension takes effect April 4, that suspension—which is completely independent of the CDI suspension—will prevent Baffert from participating in the Derby regardless of how this Court rules on the preliminary injunction,” the filing said.
The initial lawsuit, filed by Baffert’s attorney Clark Brewster, sought to force CDI to allow the trainer to run his horses at its tracks. It also asked the judge to force the company to recognize Kentucky Derby points previously earned by Baffert horses.
Baffert was suspended by CDI after the split-sample drug test came back positive for betamethasone. His horses are currently ineligible to earn Derby points.
Baffert transferred four of his 3-year-old Derby prospects to other trainers on Thursday.
The company’s filing said it will file a full response to Baffert’s lawsuit on Tuesday. CDI defended its 2-year-suspension of Baffert, which it handed out following the late Medina Spirit’s positive drug test after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
“Defendant (CDI) acted to protect the safety of its human and equine athletes, and to preserve public confidence in the integrity of horse racing and the Kentucky Derby itself, by exercising its right to suspend the horse’s trainer, Plaintiff Bob Baffert, from involvement in races on its race courses,” the filing said. “Now, ten months later, Baffert has moved for a preliminary injunction enjoining his suspension and asked this Court to expedite the briefing and set a hearing on his motion.”
The filing also noted Baffert was recently denied a stay of his 90-day suspension by judge Thomas Wingate of Kentucky’s Franklin Circuit Court, a ruling the trainer has since appealed. CDI claimed that suspension could make the federal court’s ruling a moot point.
That suspension is scheduled to begin on April 4.
“The proceedings before Judge Wingate are relevant to Baffert’s claimed need for a prompt hearing because if the KHRC suspension takes effect April 4, that suspension—which is completely independent of the CDI suspension—will prevent Baffert from participating in the Derby regardless of how this Court rules on the preliminary injunction,” the filing said.
The initial lawsuit, filed by Baffert’s attorney Clark Brewster, sought to force CDI to allow the trainer to run his horses at its tracks. It also asked the judge to force the company to recognize Kentucky Derby points previously earned by Baffert horses.
Baffert was suspended by CDI after the split-sample drug test came back positive for betamethasone. His horses are currently ineligible to earn Derby points.
Baffert transferred four of his 3-year-old Derby prospects to other trainers on Thursday.
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