New York Times: the horse racing scandal? Justify failed a drug test before winning the Triple Crown

According to the New York Times, Justify won the 2018 Triple Crown after failing to test the postrace on a California track that could have prevented the horse from entering the Kentucky Derby.

The newspaper reported Wednesday that Justify, trained by Bob Baffert, had tested positive for scopolamine after winning the Santa Anita Derby in April 2018. This was one of the last Derby pre-season races. from Kentucky.

Scopolamine is considered a drug that improves the performance of racehorses, says CBS Sports.

After the race, Baffert – the legendary coach – exulted in victory, reports CBS Los Angeles. "I think this horse, what he did today, shows us his natural talent," Baffert said. "He is so talented."

Justify won the Derby and won the Preakness and Belmont auctions to complete the Triple Crown.

The Times said that instead of a quick disqualification, the California Horse Racing Board had taken more than a month to confirm the results. The newspaper also announced that instead of filing a public complaint, the board had made decisions in camera abandoning the case and easing the sentence for horses whose scopolamine was found in their system.

According to the newspaper, test results, emails and internal memoranda show how California regulators have waited nearly three weeks, until the Kentucky Derby is no more than nine days, to inform Baffert of the result. positive test. Then, two months after Belmont's victory, the committee completely closed the investigation during a closed-door management session.

"We take seriously the integrity of horse racing in California and we are committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility for all horses, jockeys and participants," said the California Horse Racing Board. a statement.

Rick Baedeker, chief executive of the board, said: "It was impossible for us to prepare an investigation report before the Kentucky Derby, it's impossible, it's not impossible, it would have been Negligible and reckless, so that we can tell an investigator what usually takes you two months, you must be done in five or eight days, we would not do it. "

A spokesman for the CHRB said the organization would make another statement on Thursday.

According to CBS LA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement in which he stated: "This disgusting concealment deceived the public of the bets and the real winners of the derbies of Santa Anita and Kentucky. (Bob) Baffert should be suspended and held responsible, and Justify should be excluded from the Triple Crown's victory. "

The Times said Baffert had not responded to multiple attempts to comment.