Medina Spirit Litigation Cost Hundreds of Thousands
With help of very low attorney fee rates, Kentucky state government still spent almost $200,000 in litigation that flowed from Medina Spirit's disqualification, and that does not include costs absorbed through the state budget.
- By Dick Downey
- January 31, 2024
Court Order Officially Dismisses Medina Spirit Appeal
An order was entered in a Kentucky court officially dismissing with prejudice the appeal of Medina Spirit's disqualification of his win of the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1).
- By Dick Downey
- January 25, 2024
Asmussen Suspension Appeal Moves Toward Conclusion
Following a judge's order setting oral arguments on a narrow set of issues, trainer Steve Asmussen's appeal of a suspension for two drug metabolite positives appears to be heading closer to a ruling—some five years after the alleged infractions.
- By Dick Downey
- November 27, 2023
Committee Advances Raising Minimum Rider Fees in KY
The Rules Committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission passed a motion recommending Kentucky raise minimum fees earned by jockeys.
- By Byron King
- October 4, 2023
Rick Dutrow Granted Kentucky Trainer's License
Multiple classic-winning and Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was granted a Kentucky trainer's license May 30 at a meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's License Review Committee.
- By Jim Mulvihill
- May 30, 2023
Medina Spirit DQ Recommendation Could Come in April
A hearing officer in the Medina Spirit case said following a March 21 hearing that she hopes to make a recommendation about the horse's Kentucky Derby (G1) disqualification to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission in April.
See AlsoKHRC, Baffert's Legal Team Present Arguments at AppealLive updates: Kentucky hearing on Bob Baffert's appeal, day 1Baffert hearing: Kentucky’s drug rules in spotlight on day 2KY Commission Denies Stay, Baffert Case Back to Court- By Dick Downey
- March 21, 2023
Appearance of Impropriety Led to Medina Spirit Recusal
Clay Patrick recused himself in the Medina Spirit disqualification case to avoid an 'appearance of impropriety' he said was precipitated when Clark Brewster purchased a yearling partially owned by him and his farm at the Keeneland September sale.
- By Dick Downey
- September 26, 2022
Medina Spirit Hearing Concludes After Closing Arguments
Attorneys involved in the Frankfort, Ky., appeal hearing involving the disqualification of Medina Spirit from the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs hammered away at each other's positions Aug. 30 in closing arguments.
- By Byron King
- August 30, 2022
Baffert Legal Team Builds Case Against Disqualification
Attorneys for trainer Bob Baffert presented several witnesses Aug. 29 that shored up their position that Medina Spirit's betamethasone positive came from an ointment that did not affect the horse's performance and also were critical of other testing.
- By Eric Mitchell
- August 29, 2022
Scollay: Otomax Problematic as Medina Spirit Treatment
Longtime regulatory veterinarian Dr. Mary Scollay criticized a practicing veterinarian's practices in prescribinga betamethasone-containing ointment to treat Medina Spirit leading up to the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1).
- By Byron King
- August 25, 2022
Medina Spirit DQ Appeal Takes Deep Dive Into KHRC Rules
Attorneys for the connections of Medina Spirit tried to establish that Kentucky rules are unclear on betamethasone as an appeal hearing of the horse's Kentucky Derby (G1) disqualification continued Aug. 23 in Frankfort, Ky.
- By Frank Angst
- August 23, 2022
KHRC, Baffert's Legal Team Present Arguments at Appeal
As Bob Baffert testified about events before and after Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone after finishing first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby—before later being disqualified from that victory—his attorneys registered frequent objections.
- By Frank Angst
- August 22, 2022
NY Judge Orders Disclosure of Maylin Research Records
Attorneys for Dr. George Maylin and connections of Medina Spirit lost an effort in New York to stop enforcement of a subpoena served on Maylin to produce research records about his study of Medina Spirit's post-Derby positive for betamethasone.
- By Dick Downey
- August 1, 2022
Maylin: Medina Spirit Final Research a Long Way Off
Last summer Judge Thomas Wingate urged lawyers to get results from Dr. George Maylin's scientific testing of urine samples so the Medina Spirit case could move on. Almost a year later, Maylin said his research project is not even close to completion.
- By Dick Downey
- June 29, 2022
Maylin: Medina Spirit's KY Derby Participation 'Folly'
Dr. George Maylin, who reported he found elements of the cream Otomax in post-race samples from Medina Spirit, said during a June 10 deposition it was folly to allow the horse to run in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
- By Dick Downey
- June 28, 2022
KHRC Files Motion to Dismiss Baffert Appeal
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission wants Bob Baffert's case in the Kentucky Court of Appeals dismissed, arguing that Franklin Circuit Court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to rule on the underlying case.
- By Dick Downey
- March 31, 2022
KHRC: Venue Not a Problem, But No Stay for Baffert
Paperwork has been flying back and forth in the Kentucky Court of Appeals case where trainer Bob Baffert is seeking a reprieve from three different denials of his effort to have a 90-day suspension stayed.
- By Dick Downey
- March 30, 2022
Lawyers Argue Cases as Baffert Seeks Stay of Suspension
Attorneys argued in court March 17 whether a stay should be granted to trainer Bob Baffert while he appeals a 90-day suspension related to the disqualification of Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby (G1) for a medication violation.
- By Byron King
- March 17, 2022
KY Commission Denies Stay, Baffert Case Back to Court
In a March 4 meeting, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission denied a stay to the connections of disqualified 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Medina Spirit while the case is appealed.
- By Byron King
- March 4, 2022
Improved Transparency Proposed at KHRC Meeting
Stating the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is committed to the "best interest of the horsem*n, association, and racing industry as a whole,"chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz said Feb. 15 that the KHRC has begun the process for increased transparency.
- By Lauren Gash
- February 15, 2022
Judge Urges Resolution Over Medina Spirit Urine Sample
Speaking during a court hearing June 11, attorneys associated with Kentucky Derby (G1) first-place finisher Medina Spirit sparred with counsel for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission over the quantity of the colt's urine to be sent to a laboratory.
- By Byron King
- June 11, 2021
KY Riding Crop Rule Modified to Emphasize Suspensions
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Rules Committee passed a motion Sept. 29 that will modify the riding crop regulation it passed in June to emphasize suspensions for jockeys committing offenses rather than monetary penalties.
- By Byron King
- September 29, 2020
Kentucky Supreme Court Hears HHR Arguments
Attorneys on behalf of Kentucky tracks and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission offered oral arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court Aug. 14 defending historical horse racing games.
- By Frank Angst
- August 14, 2020
Appeals Court Hears Arguments on 2019 Kentucky Derby DQ
Based on questions from judges on a federal appeals court June 16, a key point in determining if a lower federal court should consider owners Gary and Mary West's lawsuit is if stewards' decisions amount to de facto regulatory hearings.
- By Frank Angst
- June 16, 2020
Judge Reviews Tracks' Rights to Impose Non-Lasix Rules
Whether Churchill Downs and Keeneland have the authority to prohibit race-day use of the anti-bleeding medication furosemide in 2-year-olds was debated May 27 during a court hearing as part of a lawsuit filed against the two tracks.
- By Ron Mitchell
- May 27, 2020
Small Fine Wraps Up Motion's Important Regulatory Case
The connections had been fighting the relatively minor offense on principle and initially secured a big victory in Franklin Circuit Court when Judge Thomas Wingate overturned the commission's ruling and sanctions.
- By Frank Angst
- March 26, 2020
