Bob Baffert is the talk of the town right now. So, it turns out that the Hall of Fame trainer, who has won the Kentucky Derby six times, is making his way back to Churchill Downs after being away for three years. He was suspended, which kept him from competing in any races at this track. This time around, he’s not just after that seventh title; he’s also looking for a bit of redemption since his reputation took a hit after the whole Medina Spirit incident back in 2021.

According to the Los Angeles Times, with only a few days left until the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert shared his thoughts, saying, “Racing has changed. It’s different now. It’s being really regulated, and so we have to be really careful with everything. You’re always worried. I never had to worry about a test until now. And HISA is doing a better job. To me, if there’s intent [to cheat], boom, get them out of here. If there’s no intent, it’s contamination levels, which ours was, and they actually raised [the number] a little bit, so [the Medina Spirit sample] wouldn’t be a positive today, so that’s good. So, good things will come out of it.”

So, what was the Hall of Fame trainer trying to say? Baffert is thinking about how horse racing has really tightened up on regulations in recent years. What about the credit? This has really come to light, especially with the oversight of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). He points out that trainers really need to be super careful with all parts of horse care and medication these days.

Even the smallest bit of contamination, which wouldn’t have caused a problem before, is now being watched closely. Additionally, Baffert points out the difference between intentional doping and accidental contamination, implying that only those who cheat on purpose should face severe consequences. He points out that the limit for certain substances has been increased since Medina Spirit’s disqualification from the 2021 Kentucky Derby, suggesting that if we look at today’s standards, that positive test wouldn’t have led to the horse being disqualified.

In the end, the 72-year-old trainer appears to believe that these changes are steering the sport toward a fairer and more sensible path, even if it has made training a bit more stressful and demanding. It’s not the first time Baffert has talked about his past suspension.

Bob Baffert is looking forward to a bright future

Bob Baffert has been racing his horses for decades now. He’s definitely had his ups and downs, and the most recent challenge is that three-year suspension he got in 2021, which means he was unable to participate in races at Churchill Downs.

So, with him heading back to the racecourse, he mentioned, “In racing, you have to accept when you get beat. You accept when things don’t go right. It was one of those things, ‘Well, I can’t change it.’ When I don’t have any control of it, I don’t worry about it.” Baffert has definitely seen his share of victories, but he’s also faced quite a few losses along the way in his career.

So, this is just another chapter in his life that he’s ready to wrap up and move on from, looking ahead with a positive outlook. He’s recognized the issues that led to his suspension, but he’s not dwelling on the past. Instead, he’s focused on a bright future in the sport.