Hore's Advisory Role for Baffert Did Not Materialize

Following positive drug tests last year from Charlatan , Gamine , and Merneith , Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert issued a statement in November that he had retained Dr. Michael Hore of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute "to add an additional layer of protection to ensure the well-being of horses in my care and rule compliance."

But that advisory role was never fully implemented, according to the veterinarian and Baffert's attorney, Craig Robertson.

"Following some initial discussions with Bob and one of my colleagues last fall—and his announcement regarding new procedures to ensure no further medication issues—our role in those procedures did not materialize as intended, because of travel and other restrictions related to COVID-19. He is based in California, we are based in Kentucky," Hore wrote in an email to BloodHorse.

Hore is not currently licensed as a veterinarian in California, according to the Veterinary Medical Board website.

BLOODHORSE: Baffert Issues Statement on Medication Issues

Six months following Baffert's fall announcement, another medication controversy surrounds one of his trainees—Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit , the first-place finisher in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. A post-race test shows the colt testing positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone, putting Medina Spirit at risk of disqualification if a split sample confirms the finding.

He is the morning-line favorite for the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, and track officials will permit him to run if he passes pre-race drug tests.

After saying May 9 that he and his staff never treated Medina Spirit with betamethasone, Baffert issued a statement via Robertson May 11 that suggested the test result for betamethasone may have been the result of exposure from an ointment called Otomax that was applied to skin irritation on the colt's hind quarters.

Though betamethasone valerate is an ingredient listed on Otomax's packaging, Baffert indicated he did not realize the ointment contained betamethasone until May 10, soon after he began investigating what might have caused the test result. The ointment was suggested by a veterinarian, said Robertson, though he declined to identify the practitioner.

Robertson confirmed May 12 that Hore did not take as active a role as Baffert planned last fall, citing travel complications and COVID-19 restrictions.

"There are pretty strict rules and protocols in California about who can and cannot go to the backside during COVID," he said. "Those rules—I'm not 100% sure where they stand now and whether they have been relaxed at all—but during the height of all this, there were very strict rules in place that got in the way of all that."

In addition to the portion of his November statement in which he described retaining Hore, last fall Baffert also pledged "to do everything possible to ensure I receive no further medication complaints." Such action included "increasing the training and awareness of all my employees when it comes to proper protocols" and "personally increasing my oversight and commitment to running a tight ship and being careful that protective measures are in place."

Robertson said Hore could still advise the trainer.

"There were the initial discussions and plans to begin the process of it materializing," he said. "They did not materialize as expected due to COVID, but I've had conversations with Dr. Hore the last couple days about that very subject and discussing about getting that back on track."