Trainer Bob Baffert reportedly has used betamethasone injections despite saying earlier that he prohibited the use of the corticosteroid in his barn.
An investigation by Paulick Report found that Havnameltdown, a 3-year-old colt trained by Baffert, was injected with several medications, including Celestone, the brand name for injectable betamethasone.
Havnameltdown broke down and was euthanized after a spill in the Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico.
Baffert’s primary veterinarian in California, Dr. Vincent Baker, was the administering veterinarian, according to Paulick Report, which noted that the injections complied with regulations and were reported to state officials.
After Gamine, a filly trained by Baffert, had a betamethasone positive in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, the trainer said he ordered his veterinarians to stop using the medication for any kind of injections. He also said that Gamine was injected with the drug 18 days ahead of the race and that the regulation at the time said it would not be detectable if it were injected more than 14 days before a race.
Clark Brewster, an attorney for Baffert, did not reply to a request for comment from Horse Racing Nation. He told Paulick Report that the trainer was able to resume using betamethasone because of national medication regulations created by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, which enforces the HISA’s medication control program.
“HISA enactment and HIWU governance has clearly made great strides in providing more reliable information and scientific guidelines to all treating race track veterinarians,” Brewster said in an email to Paulick Report. Based upon the HIWU rules and studies Bob has placed his confidence of proper medications use on those experienced experts.”
