Bob Baffert walked American Pharoah to his barn at Keeneland with the utmost reverence, as if tending to the cape of a king, alongside his fellow thoroughbred racing genius Todd Pletcher. Notably, American Pharoah had just won the prestigious Belmont Stakes, 37 years after the previous Triple Crown champion. Baffert had invited Pletcher to witness the majesty of a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Both trainers have remained at the top of their game since that moment eight years ago, drawing investment in their well-bred horses that bring in millions of dollars in the stallion barn. However, their success has come at a cost; both have relied on pushing horses hard in training and using veterinarians to keep their mounts on the track. Recently, Pletcher’s horses have failed six drug tests in three different states, and one of those horses, Forte, will be racing against Baffert’s National Treasure in the Belmont Stakes. In the last four decades, Baffert has also been implicated in 30 drug test failures, most notably with Medina Spirit, who had his Kentucky Derby win removed due to a prohibited drug. The sport’s credibility has been further eroded by the recent spate of racehorse deaths, causing public concern about the treatment of animals and the increasing appeal of alternative types of betting. The new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has established strict anti-doping rules to combat this problem. Baffert and Pletcher learned their trade from their fathers and continue to be successful despite widespread drug use in the past. Despite their impressive careers, both have become known for pushing horses too hard in training, which has led to injuries and fatalities.
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