BAFFERT SUSPENSION LIFTED ... WILL HE COME TO COLONIAL DOWNS?

 

There is no guarantee, of course, but it seems 

likely Thoroughbred Hall of Fame trainer

 BOB BAFFERT will bring a horse or two 

… or more (hopefully) … to Colonial Downs 

this summer … now that his suspension for 

winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby with a 

doped-up entry has been removed … You 

might recall Baffert became persona non 

grata at Churchill Downs as well as all tracks 

it owns (like Colonial) after a post-Derby test 

found MEDINA SPIRITto have an illegal 

drug in its system. The three-year-old 

Thoroughbred was disqualified … and the 71 

year old much-decorated trainer told no horse 

in his barn would be allowed to compete at 

Churchill or any of its affiliated tracks for 

two years … in what was considered an 

unusually harsh penalty … especially for 

someone who had saddled six Derby, seven 

Preakness and four Belmont Stakes winners 

including two – AMERICAN PHAROAH

 (2015); JUSTIFY (2018) -- who won all 

three … If that wasn’t bad enough, Churchill 

increased the punishment through 2024 … 

after a lawsuit brought by the owners of 

Baffert-trained MUTH to get their horse in 

this year’s Derby, where it undoubtedly 

would have been the favorite. A Kentucky 

judge rejected the suit … and Churchill 

Downs recently ended the suspension, saying 

(in effect) Baffert had learned his lesson. Part 

of the deal apparently was for him to say, 

without admitting culpability, that, as trainer, 

he was responsible for everything that went 

into the horse … even if he had nothing to do 

with it per se.

Now, with Colonial Downs having its second 

annual Festival of Racing August 10 ,,, that 

features the Grade I Arlington Million as well 

as two Gr. II stakes ... it would be surprising 

if Baffert didn’t see it as a perfect opportunity 

to take some of Churchill’s money. In turn, 

the New Kent County track could use the 

presence of Baffert as the potential clincher to 

convince a major TV network to cover the 

event with live racing coverage … After NBC 

claimed record viewership for the 2024 

Derby … with an average of 16.7 million as 

well as a peak of 20.1 million (over all 

platforms) … the network and Churchill, Inc., 

agreed to a new contract to carry the Derby 

through 2032.

Long-time Colonial watchers might recall 

Baffert brought SENOR SWINGER here for 

the 2003 Virginia Derby. At the time the 4-

year-old gray was unbeaten on turf, having 

won a pair of Grade III stakes at Churchill 

Downs sandwiched around a fifth in the 

Preakness on the dirt at Pimlico … and went 

off a 1-5 favorite … only to finish a distant 

fourth in the $500,000 sixth annual race … 

The winner was SILVER TREE, with

 EDGAR PRADO up, and paid $13.00, 

$7.40 and – get this -- $18.80 … after 

someone with more money than sense 

plunked (we were told) a cool $1 million on 

Senor Swinger to place … We should have 

known better than to bet against Prado, 

leading jockey at Colonial Downs in 1997 

and 1998 before moving into faster company 

and continuing to excel. He was aboard 2002 

Virginia Derby winner ORCHARD PARK, 

older brother of Silver Tree … and, earlier on 

2003 Derby day, he won the All Along Stakes 

with DRESS TO THRILL … after the 4 

year old favorite (3-5) was spooked by a loud 

noise and broke from the starting gate 

prematurely, throwing Prado who fortunately 

wasn’t injured. Back in the saddle following a 

short delay, he brought Thrill home by a half-

length over 11-1 long shot LADY LINDA.

……. Quietly, without fanfare or little notice, 

the Virginia Racing Commission is 

interviewing for a new executive secretary. 

After eight-plus years on the job, DAVID 

LERMOND JR., was told thanks for the 

memories … you’re outta here. “He was 

doing too many things ‘his’ way” … was the 

best – and only – explanation we could get 

from anyone who knew the reason(s) why …

 BERNARD HETTEL, who was executive 

secretary for five years until replaced by 

Lermond in 2016, was named interim … 

Lermond, Jr., 57, who joined the VRC as 

director of parimutuels in 2004, told the 

world he no longer was employed by the 

commission on May 28 … but declined to say 

anything other than his departure was 

“amicable.”… Before coming to the New 

Kent County track, he spent 10 years at 

Delaware Park as director of simulcasting … 

Virginia Racing Commission has a regularly-

scheduled meeting Thursday (July 25) at 

Colonial Downs. The printed agenda makes 

no mention of a new executive director … 

other than we will get an update on the search 

… Highlight of the session could be a 

presentation from StrideSAFE… maker of a 

new, revolutionary sensor designed to keep 

track of a race horse’s performance … all in 

the interest of safety. 

……. In case you missed it … the 2026 

Preakness will be held at Laurel while 

Pimlico, the forever home of the second leg 

of the Triple Crown, undergoes much-needed 

renovation following next year’s race … In a 

honey of a deal for all parties (or so it seems), 

The Stronach Group sold Pimlico to the state 

of Maryland for one dollar ($1.00) which in 

turn gave the Canadian-based company 

Laurel … which will be torn down following 

the 2027 racing season … the land scheduled 

to be developed or whatever … as Stronach 

sees fit. 

Until next time ...