The following statement was sent to Horse Racing Nation by Craig Robertson, Bob Baffert's attorney:
Yesterday I was informed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that MEDINA SPIRIT allegedly tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone. I want to be clear on three points.
First, I have seen it reported that betamethasone is a “banned” substance. This is not true. Betamethasone is an allowable, therapeutic medication. Second, and more importantly, at no point in time has anyone in my barn or any of my veterinarians ever administered betamethasone to MEDINA SPIRIT. I do not know how betamethasone could have possibly gotten into MEDINA SPIRIT, but I do know it did not come from me. Therefore, I intend to thoroughly and transparently investigate the matter to determine how this could have happened. We will have the split sample analyzed and DNA testing performed. That will be the first step in the process.
Lastly, as I have stated in the past: there is a broader issue in horse racing concerning the regulation of allowable medications at 21 picograms – which is a trillionth of a gram – that the industry must address. I would ask that everyone reserve judgment until all facts and circumstances are thoroughly investigated and discovered.
