Statement by Ed Martin, President,
Association of Racing
Commissioners International
As I watched Bob Baffert denying any
knowledge of how an illegal drug got into his Kentucky Derby horse, the scene
from Casablanca where Captain Renault denies any knowledge of the existence of
gambling in Rick’s Cafe comes to mind.
“I am shocked that there is betamethasone in my horse.” Hmmm. Then
just as in Shakespeare when the lady doth protest too much, the usual claims
are made when such questions arise: I don’t know how it got there; I didn’t do
it; my records prove me innocent; the lab is too sensitive; it doesn’t affect
performance; it was contamination; the rules are wrong.
As the facts now stand, the substance was in the horse at a level it should not
have been. The Kentucky commission is investigating and will take
appropriate action based on the facts of the case as they develop.
But I can say this as someone who had to investigate such matters, if there was
contamination, other horses will also trip the wire. The “only my horse
was contaminated” claim usually doesn’t stand up. Complaining
about picograms doesn’t either as today’s sensitivity of the lab is a good
thing. And let’s be blunt, some substances have an enormous affect
at a minute level.
Claims that this won’t affect the performance of the horse in the race miss one
of the main points of the rule. It’s not just about whether
something can make a horse run faster, but also if the masking of pain or
injury might put the horse at risk. Collectively the more stringent rules
are helping reduce breakdowns.
Maybe Mr. Baffert truly has no idea how the drug got in his horse. But it
was there based upon everything we know. He is the responsible trainer,
not only for his horse, but everyone who works for him and the vets he uses.
Most horses tested come back clear, even with the uber sensitive capabilities
of the lab that Mr. Baffert decries. I prefer to trust the Kentucky
investigation to unearth the pertinent facts.
As far as cancel culture is concerned, I have no idea what the hell he is
talking about.
