Bob Baffert, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, faces class-action lawsuits filed by bettors in Kentucky and California after the horse tested positive for steroids after the race. The lawsuits accuse Baffert of fraud, racketeering and negligence after betamethasone was discovered in the blood test, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
Bettors want compensation for the wagers they lost and one suit seeks Baffert’s removal from horse racing. One of the lawsuits also accused Baffert and Churchill Downs of negligence for failing to detect the substance prior to the race.
“We all think it’s a long shot,” said plaintiffs Justin Wunderler. “But if we don’t [speak up] for the bettors, it’s just going to keep on going. Nothing will change in my opinion.”
Wunderler and three others claim the situation kept them from collecting at least $54,000. A plaintiff in the second lawsuit, Anthony Mattera, said he and his partners expected to win $1 million.
“As horseplayers, we’re used to being abused and mistreated,” said Mattera, who supports the creation of a fund to settle wagers involving disqualified horses. “We’re always left holding the bag, and there never seems to be any consequences for those who are in a position to prevent something like this from happening but won’t. It’s way past time that trainers and racetracks get held to account for their actions and failures.”
Baffert’s attorney called the lawsuit “completely frivolous, with zero legal merit.” The Hall of Fame trainer admitted he treated Medina Spirit with an ointment containing betamethasone for dermatitis shortly before the Derby. But according to the rules, use of any medication needs to stop 14 days prior to the race.
Baffert blamed the positive test and his suspension from Churchill Downs on “cancel culture.”
