Originally Posted by King Glorious (Post 1152836)

I don't think it's really hard to understand. Look at all he's gained doing it his way. He's gained financial wealth for his family for generations to come. He's gotten himself into the hall of fame. The media loves him. He's the face of the sport. Because of his TC success, owners send him top stock every year and undoubtedly will continue to do so and take their chances that their horse won't be the one to get caught. He barely gets penalized and when he does, it's nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Honestly, I think that the rest of the guys that follow the rules are idiots. When you know that the penalties will be extremely light and you think of all there is to gain, I almost want to say you're doing a disservice to yourself and your owners to not cheat. It's great to have integrity and be able to look yourself in the mirror and say "I did it the right way". But you're going to be saying it while living in your two bedroom apartment while wondering how to make ends meet and you'll be single. Meanwhile, the guy that's cheating has a $5 million mansion, the best cars, the best women, travels the world, and is the face of the sport.

You think Alex Rodriguez regrets cheating? Probably over half a billion in the bank, a great job at ESPN as an analyst, and engaged to Jennifer Lopez. Not a bad trade-off for not making the hall of fame. Which he still might one day.

Originally Posted by Dahoss (Post 1152838)

I guess I look at it the other way. A Rod didn’t have to cheat. He was a genetic freak who was going to be a hall of famer even if he didn’t cheat.

Baffert doesn’t have to bend the rules for lack of a better term. He’s a fantastic trainer who is blessed with having the best stock money can buy. He would’ve made enough money for generations to come regardless. He chooses to bend the rules. It’s a choice and shows a complete lack of character.

I can sympathize with the trainer who is barely making ends meet who has to bend the rules to put food on his table. This is not that.

Originally Posted by jms62 (Post 1152842)

We now have a chance to straighten this sport out.

If you want to straighten out this sport a class action lawsuit vs. Baffert , Owners and Churchill Downs seeking to return EVERY LIVE BET into Kentucky Derby. I am going To get slaughtered here for saying this I am-sure.

At this point Drugs are cost of doing business for these guys. Get caught and return purse money and pay a fine... How many times have they not been caught. with the dollars in the derby pool make this hurt and send a message.

The reason Include the track and owners is I feel both know or suspect but turn a blind eye. Penalize owners and you can be certain owners will not want to take chances in the future.

Originally Posted by King Glorious (Post 1152848)

I don't mean this in any disrespectful way but I think that anyone that believes that everyone does things in the best interest and welfare of the horse is living in a world that isn't real. I'm not saying that they don't care and that they are trying to hurt the horses but I just don't think they care as much as people think. Surprisingly, lol, I don't know much about the drugs and their actual impact on the horses. Was Medina Spirit's physical well being compromised in the short or long term by the medication? Brad Cox said he's doing what's in the best interest of the horse by not running Mandoloun in the Preakness. With the possibility of a DQ of the winner, Mandaloun moves up. Being a Derby winner and having a shot at the TC, does that mean that he reverses course and now runs? Is that now in the best interests of the horse.....or the human connections?

I actually do sympatize with the guys that are trying to do it the right way and are beaten by the guys that cheat. But again, the bigger responsibility for fixing this is on the sport, not the trainers. If it's not Baffert, it's going to be someone else looking to take every advantage to fill the void he leaves. Like Jim Rome says, "if you're not cheating, you're not trying and it's only cheating if you get caught."

Originally Posted by Dahoss (Post 1152854)

I just listened to the Baffert presser.

Hearing him whine about how something isn’t right and why does this keep happening to him is gross. He’s a disgusting person.

Originally Posted by ADJMK (Post 1152862)

Per the DRF article:

The Kentucky Oaks positive was detected in Gamine, an eventual champion, after the filly’s third-place finish in the race. Gamine, who also tested positive for betamethasone, was disqualified, and Baffert was fined $1,500. Baffert and his attorney had argued that the horse was administered the corticosteroid 18 days prior to the race, outside the 14-day withdrawal guideline. Baffert did not appeal the ruling.


His plea that he doesn't understand how this could happen? Really ?

Originally Posted by Conrad (Post 1152859)

Churchill has ruled him off the grounds.

Poor Pimlico...what will they do if he wants to run Medina in the Preakness? No way they want this mess at their door. They probably don't want Concert Tour either, but now the race is looking really really weak.
I hope some others will now decide to run.

Originally Posted by Kitan (Post 1152857)

Haha, is anyone even surprised?

Originally Posted by moses (Post 1152865)

Why wouldn’t Medina Spirit run in the Preakness?

Originally Posted by LITF (Post 1152871)

Be interesting to see how the horse racing media covers this. By the looks of the article on DRF they will continue the same song and dance and give Baffert (and all other suspected trainers) a relative pass.