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National HBPA Statement Regarding the Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit Situation

From National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback:

The National HBPA advocates for extensive and complete surveillance, uniformity based on transparent research, and zero tolerance of any cheating, doping, or race fixing. What we have seen thus far the situation with Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit is not any of those things.

Like many in the industry, the National HBPA is concerned by the announcement by Bob Baffert that Medina Spirit, winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, tested positive for the therapeutic medication betamethasone. As with any case, regardless of the trainer, we firmly advocate for due process and for the highest standards of health and welfare for our equine athletes. On this we all need to agree.

Owners, horseplayers and fans must have confidence in the integrity of the sport. We believe the process that has unfolded must be addressed but not in the court of public opinion. Anyone who asserts that those advocating for due process are doing a disservice to the industry ought to be ashamed. In fact, this incident has proven that current regulations have worked effectively. With that we need to treat Baffert’s case with respect and allow for due process.

We stick to the facts and I know that most everyone else does as well. Sifting through rhetoric, insinuations, opinions, and nonsense can be very difficult. As an observer I choose to consider the facts (once they are made public) and await the expert opinions of those we entrust with such issues. We do know that the 2021 Kentucky Derby was run under the strictest of ethical and safety protocols and had security by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office with 24/7 surveillance.  We also saw Medina Spirit ran the race of his life, and it is unlikely that the miniscule 21 picograms of betamethasone allowed him to do so.

We need to use this platform to again discuss why advances in science have out finished reality. The levels to which “positives” are called must be re-evaluated through the eyes of new science, as well as inadvertent contamination, and also the non-uniformity of a laboratory’s limit of detection must be addressed.  All owners and trainers, including Bob Baffert, need to have the confidence they can do what is in the best interest of equine health and welfare and not be persecuted for doing so.

The post National HBPA Statement Regarding the Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit Situation appeared first on National HBPA.

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