Federman & Sherwood File the First Class Action Lawsuit Against Robert Baffert and Zedan Racing Stables

A group of horseplayers who placed bets on the 2021 Kentucky Derby filed a purported class action lawsuit against Robert Baffert, the trainer of the horse who finished first in the race, Medina Spirit, and against the owner of the horse, Zedan Racing Stables.

It was announced on May 8th that Medina Spirit tested positive in a post-race test for the banned drug, betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid.

In 2020, Robert Baffert had four different post-race drug tests come back positive.

If Medina Spirit is disqualified, then the 2nd place horse in the race, Mandaloun, will be placed 1st and the 3rd place finisher placed 2nd and each horse will move up. The owners of those horses, as well as the trainers and jockeys, will be given the appropriate shares of the purse. Unfortunately, the bettors who wagered on the actual winning horses that did not dope will once again be left with nothing.

This lawsuit has been filed with the intent to help clean up the sport of racing, protect the horses, and to represent the horseplayers and fans who are completely ignored. Without the horseplayers, the sport of horseracing would not exist.

On November 4th of last year, Robert Baffert issued the following press release:

“I want to raise the bar and set the standard for equine safety and rule compliance going forward. For those of you that have been upset over the incidents of the past year, I share your disappointment. I humbly vow to do everything within my power to do better. I want my legacy to be one of making every effort to do right by the horse and the sport.”

The public should be able to rely on these types of statements and assume trainers and owners will play by the rules.

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