Medina Spirit tested positive in a drug test

The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race conducted in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, nearly always on the first Saturday in May to conclude the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. Following a judgment by state racing stewards on Monday, they overturned medina Spirit’s victory in the Kentucky Derby, and Mandaloun was named the winner.

What happened to Medina Spirit:

2021 Kentucky Derby Spirit of Medina Baffert won his seventh Kentucky Derby with Medina Spirit’s apparent triumph at Churchill Downs last year, breaking the record set by Ben Jones in 1952. The Kentucky Derby was won by Medina Spirit, who beat Mandaloun by half a length., giving Baffert his eighth Derby victory. Following the positive test, Baffert was given a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs. Medina Spirit beat Mandaloun by half in the Kentucky Derby, earning Baffert his seventh Derby victory. Baffert was suspended for two years by Churchill Downs following the positive test. After the race in May, the now-defunct Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, a steroid allowed in Kentucky but illegal on race day.

The positive test put the world’s most famous horse race into disarray and shone a negative light on trainer Bob Baffert, dubbed “the face of horse racing” after leading horses to the Triple Crown in 2015 and 2018. Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby gloriously by half over Mandaloun, giving Baffert his eighth Derby victory. Following the positive test, Baffert was given a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs.

Medina Spirit never did anything wrong. All he did was run as hard as he could. Every time he stepped on the track. Here’s hoping that is the way people will remember him. pic.twitter.com/FO99IOeUv5

— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) February 21, 2022

More update:

Following the stewards’ announcement, Churchill Downs released a statement thanking owner and breeder Juddmonte Farms, trainer Brad Cox, and jockey Florent Geroux on Mandaloun’s victory in the Kentucky Derby. Mandaloun’s owners will earn the $1.8 million winner’s money, making Cox the first Louisville native to win the Derby.

This will replace the paddock sign recognizing the Derby winner will be replaced with Mandaloun. On Saturday, Mandaloun will compete in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The prize is $10 million for the winner.

Bob Baffert, the trainer, was also fined $7,500 and was suspended for 90 days. The suspension was supposed to start on March 8 and finish on June 5, but it will be postponed while Baffert’s lawyers appeal the judgment. All states, not just Kentucky, would honor the suspension is upheld. Furthermore, the winner’s $1.86 million prizes will be forfeited if the appeal is denied.

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