The Tragedy of Medina Spirit
A sad scene unfolded last week at Churchill Downs, home of The Kentucky Derby. The gloomy Tuesday saw Medina Spirit’s nameplate removed from the paddock wall.
One day earlier, the Stewards disqualified Medina Spirit on the basis of a post-race drug test. It revealed the presence of betamethasone, a therapeutic medication that is illegal on race day.
The decision made Mandaloun the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby. His name went up in the space just occupied by Medina Spirit for less than ten months.
One does not typically associate Shakespearean tragedy with horse racing, but the the narrative since May 2021 reads like a modern day Richard III with a cast of fascinating characters and a mysterious death.
An underdog colt from Ocala, Florida defied the odds to win the most iconic horse race in the world under the tutelage of Bob Baffert, the most visible trainer in the world.
The spirited colt powered through two marquee races since the drug test news broke. He finished third at the Preakness Stakes and second at the Breeders Cup Classic in November 2021. The latter event became his final race.
Medina Spirit died in early December 2021 following a workout at Santa Anita Park. The necropsy was inconclusive as to the cause of death. No illegal drugs showed up in his system.
The beleaguered trainer expressed his heartbreak over the horse’s sudden passing. He still maintains his position that the positive drug test following the Derby resulted from a topical ointment containing betamethasone, not a steroidal injection.
Baffert has his supporters and just as many, if not more detractors. Many people would like to see him banned from horseracing for life. A two year ban from Churchill Downs and a $7,500 fine don’t go far enough in their eyes.
Medina Spirit’s story contains all of the intrigue of a Hollywood film. No one knows how it will end because it’s still being written. Baffert filed suit today in federal court against Churchill Downs to battle his suspension.
Regardless of the outcome, Medina Spirit will always haunt the Sport of Kings. His ashes will come to rest at Old Friends, a retirement farm in Kentucky. He will join past Derby winners Charismatic and War Emblem.
