Bodemeister (foaled April 28, 2009) is a Thoroughbred race horse who won the 2012 Arkansas Derby and finished second to I'll Have Another in the 2012 Kentucky Derby and 2012 Preakness Stakess . He went on to become the sire of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming .
78-462: Robert A. Baffert (born January 13, 1953) is an American racehorse trainer who is considered one of the most successful and influential trainers in the history of horse racing. He has trained two Triple Crown winners: American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. Baffert's horses have won the Kentucky Derby six times, tying the record with Ben A. Jones for wins by a trainer. He holds
156-516: A "Racing Register of Merit", which allows a horse to race on Quarter Horse tracks, but not be considered a Quarter Horse for breeding purposes (unless other requirements are met). A stallion who has won many races may be put up to stud when he is retired. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer technology (allowed only in some breeds) have brought changes to the traditions and ease of breeding. Pedigrees of stallions are recorded in various books and websites, such as Weatherbys Stallion Book ,
234-527: A compact, muscular horse. At this time, they were mainly used for chores such as plowing and cattle work. The American Quarter Horse was not recognized as an official breed until the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association in 1940. In order to be successful in racing, Quarter Horses need to be able to propel themselves forward at extremely fast sprinter speed. The Quarter Horse has much larger hind limb muscles than
312-412: A few races that are even longer than one hundred miles and last multiple days. These different lengths of races are divided into five categories: pleasure rides (10–20 miles), non-competitive trail rides (21–27 miles), competitive trail rides (20–45 miles), progressive trail rides (25–60 miles), and endurance rides (40–100 miles in one day, up to 250 miles (400 km) in multiple days). Because each race
390-712: A former television reporter based in Louisville, in 2002. They had a son in 2004 whom they named "Bode" ( / ˈ b oʊ d i / BOH -dee ), after skier Bode Miller . Baffert and his family reside in California. He appeared in an episode of the TV show Take Home Chef . Baffert survived a heart attack in late March 2012 while in Dubai conditioning Game On Dude to compete in the Dubai World Cup . Following
468-734: A good horse" and his management ability in finding the right opportunities for his charges. Baffert's history in the American Classic races began in 1996 when he trained a three-year-old colt named Cavonnier, who ran second in the Kentucky Derby. In 1997, he trained Silver Charm to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, finishing second in the Belmont. Baffert revisited the Derby the next year, sending two top colts, Real Quiet and Indian Charlie , to Louisville. Real Quiet won
546-506: A great deal of power and speed. The conditioning program for the horses varies depending on the race length. Genetics, training, age, and skeletal soundness are all factors that contribute to a horse's performance. The muscle structure and fiber type of horses depends on the breed; therefore, genetics must be considered when constructing a conditioning plan. A horse's fitness plan must be coordinated properly in order to prevent injury or lameness. If these are to occur, they may negatively affect
624-425: A heart attack. Bodemeister was made favorite ahead of I'll Have Another by odds-makers in the 2012 Preakness Stakes on 19 May. The race developed in similar fashion to the Kentucky Derby, with Bodemeister leading until the final 50 yards, when he was caught by I'll Have Another and finished second by a neck. Baffert announced afterward that Bodemeister would not race in the 2012 Belmont Stakes . On August 21 it
702-700: A horse hit the board again in any of the Triple Crown races until 2009, when he trained Pioneerof The Nile to a second-place finish in the Derby. Baffert trained Lookin At Lucky , co-owned by Mike Pegram , to win the Preakness Stakes in 2010. The colt skipped the Belmont Stakes but became the champion three-year-old colt that year. In 2012, Baffert saddled Bodemeister , named for the trainer's youngest son, Bode, to second-place finishes in
780-731: A horse's willingness to learn. Sprinting exercises are appropriate for training two-year-old racehorses, but the number is limited by psychological factors as well as physical. A horse's skeletal system adapts to the exercise it receives. Because the skeletal system does not reach full maturity until the horse is at least six years of age, young racehorses often suffer injuries. In the United States, Thoroughbred flat races are run on surfaces of either dirt, synthetic or turf. Other tracks offer Quarter Horse racing and Standardbred racing, on combinations of these three types of racing surfaces. Racing of other breeds, such as Arabian horse racing,
858-428: A new ruling which would effectively disqualify Justify from his win. In 2021, the post-race test of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit showed 21 pg / mL of betamethasone . In Kentucky, any amount of betamethasone detected in post-race testing is a violation and could result in a disqualification. It was Baffert's fifth violation in 13 months. At a news conference on May 9, Baffert initially said that Medina Spirit
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#1732794132842936-609: A pain medication commonly administered to horses. However, his violations for use of prohibited medications has sparked controversy. In September 2019 The New York Times reported that Justify tested positive for the banned substance scopolamine after winning the Santa Anita Derby . After legal battles, in December 2023 a judge ordered stewards of the California Horse Racing Board to issue
1014-565: A separate subsection from Thoroughbreds. Arabians must be able to withstand traveling long distances at a moderate pace. They have an abundance of type I muscle fibers , enabling their muscles to work for extended periods of time. Also, the muscles of the Arabian are not nearly as massive as those of the Quarter Horse, which allow it to travel longer distances at quicker speeds. The Arabian is primarily used today in endurance racing but
1092-576: A statement accepting responsibility for Medina Spirit's drug positive and for any substance found in the horses that he trained. "I have paid a very steep price with a three-year suspension and the disqualification of Medina Spirit’s performance," he said, adding that he was "committed to having an amicable resolution with Churchill Downs in order to have the opportunity to compete again for the Triple Crown." Baffert has been married twice and has five children: four with his first wife, Sherry: Taylor, Canyon, Forest, and Savannah. He married his second wife, Jill,
1170-754: A target for controversy. Longtime client Mike Pegram explained, "Anybody who walks with that swagger, people are going to love him or hate him…he's a wiseass and irreverent." Former client Kaleem Shah said, "He will rub people the wrong way by speaking his mind, sometimes he needs to hit the mute button." Over 30 horses Baffert trained have failed drug tests . Baffert has paid out over $ 20,000 in fines. He routinely challenges most sanctions, usually agreeing to accept fines but vigorously fighting suspensions. Horse owner and racing reform advocate Barry Irwin has stated, "He's Mr. Teflon." In raw numbers, most of Baffert's medication violations were for exceeding allowed amounts of authorized medications such as phenylbutazone ,
1248-458: A thyroid hormone, that could cause heart problems during exercise, but concluded the medication, which Baffert said he had been using routinely for the previous five years, did not cause the heart attacks. No sanctions were issued against Baffert. Baffert's ban at Churchill Downs' racetracks was extended in July 2023. One year later, in July 2024, Churchill Downs rescinded the ban after Baffert issued
1326-422: A year or so, and then, if thought capable, move on to steeplechasing. A type of racing where horses go around a track while pulling a sulky and a driver behind them. In this sport, Standardbreds are used. These horses are separated into two categories, trotters and pacers. Pacers move the legs on each side of their body in tandem, while trotters move their diagonal legs together. The latter are typically faster than
1404-623: Is also raced over traditional race tracks in many countries. Arabian Horse Racing is governed by the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing. The ancestors of the Quarter Horse were prevalent in America in the early 17th century. These horses were a blend of Colonial Spanish horses crossed with English horses that were brought over in the 1700s. The native horse and the English horse were bred together, resulting in
1482-649: Is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been mostly unchanged since at least classical antiquity . Due to animal cruelty, companies and individuals are boycotting horse racing and it has been steadily declining in popularity worldwide. Horse races vary widely in format, and many countries have developed their own particular traditions around
1560-480: Is found on a limited basis. American Thoroughbred races are run at a wide variety of distances, most commonly from 5 to 12 furlongs (0.63 to 1.50 mi; 1.0 to 2.4 km); with this in mind, breeders of Thoroughbred race horses attempt to breed horses that excel at a particular distance (see dosage index ). Horse racing in the United States and on the North American continent dates back to 1665, which saw
1638-685: Is in the gambling associated with it, an activity that in 2019 generated a worldwide market worth around US$ 115 billion. International Federation of Horseracing Authorities was founded in 1961 and 1983 but now (2024) have not an official World Horse Racing Championship. Horse racing has a long and distinguished history and has been practiced in civilizations across the world since ancient times. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in Ancient Greece , Ancient Rome , Babylon , Syria , Arabia , and Egypt . It also plays an important part of myth and legend, such as in
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#17327941328421716-643: Is marked by noteworthy statistics. The Thoroughbred Secretariat still holds the fastest times in the 1973 Triple Crown races. Jockey Russell Baze demonstrated exceptional skill with an unmatched 12,842 victories. Economic significance is reflected in the career earnings of the American Pharoah, totaling over $ 8.6 million. These quantifiable achievements add another facet to the captivating history of horse racing." Horse racing has also seen technological advancements, with innovations like photo finishes, electronic timing, and advanced breeding techniques enhancing
1794-522: Is still known as Salisbury. The first record of quarter-mile length races dated back to 1674 in Henrico County , Virginia . Each race consisted of only two horses, and they raced down the village streets and lanes. The Quarter Horse received its name from the length of the race. Tracing back the history of horse racing in the United States to its earliest inception in 1665, this sport has become an industry contributing approximately $ 15 billion to
1872-971: Is the most common form of horse racing seen worldwide. Flat racing tracks are typically oval in shape and are generally level, although in Great Britain and Ireland there is much greater variation, including figure-of-eight tracks like Windsor and tracks with often severe gradients and changes of camber, such as Epsom Racecourse . Track surfaces vary, with turf most common in Europe and dirt more common in North America and Asia. Newly designed synthetic surfaces, such as Polytrack or Tapeta , are seen at some tracks. Individual flat races are run over distances ranging from 440 yards (400 m) to more than four miles (6.4 km), although races longer than two miles (3.2 km) are quite rare, and distances between five and twelve furlongs (1.0 and 2.4 km) are
1950-738: Is very long, trails of natural terrain are generally used. Contemporary organized endurance racing began in California around 1955, and the first race marked the beginning of the Tevis Cup This race was a one-hundred-mile, one-day-long ride starting in Squaw Valley , Placer County , and ending in Auburn . Founded in 1972, the American Endurance Ride Conference was the United States' first national endurance riding association. The longest endurance race in
2028-764: The Australian Stud Book and Thoroughbred Heritage . There are three founding sires that all Thoroughbreds can trace back to in the male line: the Darley Arabian , the Godolphin Arabian , and the Byerley Turk , named after their respective owners Thomas Darley , Lord Godolphin, and Captain Robert Byerly. They were taken to England, where they were bred with mares from English and imported bloodlines. The resultant foals were
2106-606: The 2021 Belmont Stakes or any other race at Belmont Park . On June 14, 2021, Baffert sued the NYRA alleging the association had no authority to suspend his license and that suspension "without prior notice" was a violation of the law. On July 14 the suspension was reversed by U. S. Federal District Court Judge Carol Bagley Amon sitting in the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn . The Judge made her ruling based on
2184-737: The Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer three years running and was voted the 1997 Big Sport of Turfdom Award . Baffert was inducted into Lone Star Park's Hall of Fame in 2007, and in 2009, he was nominated and inducted to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame , the same year as a filly he trained, Silverbulletday . Point Given was nominated in 2009, but elected and inducted in 2010. Baffert has trained horses that won seventeen American Classic Races , eighteen Breeders' Cup races, four Dubai World Cups and two Pegasus World Cups . His graded stakes wins include nine wins in
2262-755: The Jockey Club was formed as a way to control the Newmarket races, set the rules of the game, prevent dishonesty, and create a level field. The Epsom Derby began in 1780. The first of the five classic races began with the St Leger Stakes in 1776. In 1814, the system was complete with five annual races. While Newmarket and the Jockey Club set the standards, most of the racing took place in landowners' fields and in rising towns for small cash prizes and enormous local prestige. The system of wagering
2340-518: The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe , Melbourne Cup , Japan Cup , Epsom Derby , Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup , are run over distances in the middle of this range and are seen as tests of both speed and stamina to some extent. In the most prestigious races, horses are generally allocated the same weight to carry for fairness, with allowances given to younger horses and female horses running against males. These races are called conditions races and offer
2418-718: The Roman Empire , chariot and mounted horse racing were major industries. From the mid-fifth century BCE, spring carnival in Rome closed with a horse race. Fifteen to twenty riderless horses, originally imported from the Barbary Coast of North Africa , were set loose to run the length of the Via del Corso , a long, straight city street. The race lasted about two-and-a-half minutes. In later times, Thoroughbred racing became popular with British royalty and aristocrats, earning it
Bob Baffert - Misplaced Pages Continue
2496-720: The Santa Anita Derby , nine in the Haskell Invitational Handicap , nine in the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes , and sixteen in the Del Mar Futurity , a race he won seven straight times from 1996 to 2002, when it was a Grade II event. He also won the race in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2022 when run as a Grade I event. He has won the Kentucky Oaks three times: first in 1999 with Silverbulletday , who
2574-957: The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance , the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), and Old Friends Equine , all programs for retired race horses; and to the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund in memory of a Quarter Horse Jockey named Robert Z. "Bobby" Adair. A friend of Baffert's and an inductee into the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame, Adair died on Preakness Day, May 16, 2015, at 71. Baffert dedicated American Pharoah's win to Bobby. Kentucky Derby record: 34–7–3–3 Preakness record: 23–7–2–3 Belmont record: 12–3–3–0 Racehorse Horse racing
2652-899: The University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program with a Bachelor of Science degree, got married, and began training quarter horses at a Prescott, Arizona farm. By age 20, he had developed a reputation as a trainer and was hired by other trainers to run their stables. His first winner was Flipper Star at Rillito Park on January 28, 1979. In the 1980s, Baffert moved to California and worked at Los Alamitos Race Course , where he switched to training Thoroughbreds full-time in 1991. He got his first big break in 1992 when he won his first Breeder's Cup race with Thirty Slews . Baffert established his early reputation with less expensive horses like Silver Charm and Real Quiet, bought for $ 16,500 and $ 17,000 respectively. Fellow trainer D. Wayne Lukas attributed Baffert's success to his "extraordinary eye for
2730-543: The 2012 San Felipe Stakes , then win the Arkansas Derby. Bodemeister was widely considered one of the favorites to win the 2012 Kentucky Derby . Ridden by jockey Mike Smith Bodemeister led the Kentucky Derby from the start until 150 yards remained, when he was overtaken by I'll Have Another , leaving Bodemeister to finish in second place. The race came five weeks after Baffert was hospitalized in Dubai due to
2808-558: The 2015 Belmont win, Baffert outlined several charities that he and his wife Jill supported. He had been paid $ 200,000 to allow the Burger King to stand behind him in the grandstand during the televised broadcast of the Belmont, after having turned down $ 150,000 to allow the mascot to appear with him at the Preakness. At the post-Belmont press conference, Baffert announced he and his wife would be making donations of $ 50,000 each to
2886-463: The 2018 Santa Anita Derby, but the results did not become public until after the horse won the Triple Crown. That case was eventually dismissed as the regulators concluded the facts supported an instance of feed contamination. Similarly, cases against two horses who tested positive in Arkansas in 2020 for lidocaine were dismissed as being the result of accidental transfer from an assistant trainer who
2964-416: The 2018 Triple Crown Winner, Justify and the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner, Authentic. His horse Medina Spirit , who finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, was later disqualified for a medication violation. Medina Spirit's drug violation led to several racetracks suspending Baffert from entering races, including a ban of over three years by tracks owned by Churchill Downs . Between 1997 and 1999, he won
3042-444: The Arabian, which make it less suitable for endurance racing. It also has more type II-b muscle fibers, which allow the Quarter Horse to accelerate rapidly. When Quarter Horse racing began, it was very expensive to lay a full mile of track so it was agreed that a straight track of four hundred meters, or one-quarter of a mile, would be laid instead. It became the standard racing distance for Quarter Horses and inspired their name. With
3120-402: The Derby and Preakness. He saddled Paynter in the Belmont Stakes later that year, but that colt, like his stablemate Bodemeister, finished second. In 2015, Baffert trained the 2014 champion two-year-old colt American Pharoah to win the Triple Crown, the first to do so in 37 years. In winning the 141st Kentucky Derby, bringing his total number of victories in the race to four; Baffert also ran
3198-567: The NYRA having not allowed Baffert a forum to refute their claims and stated that they (the NYRA).."had held no hearing — let alone a prompt one." On September 10, 2021, Baffert was charged by NYRA for conduct detrimental to the best interests of racing. Additional charges were added on January 3, 2022. In February 2022, Baffert was suspended 90 days and fined $ 7,500 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The suspension
Bob Baffert - Misplaced Pages Continue
3276-472: The Preakness and Belmont Stakes with eventual Hall of Fame member Point Given . He finished third in the Derby that year with Congaree . Baffert won the Derby a third time in 2002 with War Emblem . The colt went on to win the Preakness Stakes, giving the trainer his third shot at winning the Triple Crown . The colt lost the Belmont Stakes after breaking poorly from the starting gate. Baffert did not have
3354-475: The Thoroughbred breed. The standardbred is a breed of horse used for a variety of purposes, but they are largely bred for harness racing. They are descended from thoroughbreds, morgans, and extinct breeds. Standardbreds are typically docile and easy to handle. They do not spook easily and are quite versatile in what they can do. They can be jumpers, dressage, and pleasure riding horses. The Arabian horse
3432-495: The U.S. economy today. Horse racing has become the second most popular spectator sport in the United States with the establishment of historic tracks like Belmont Park, major events like the Kentucky Derby, and significant institutions such as the American Stud Book. The American Stud Book was started in 1868, prompting the beginning of organized horse racing in the United States. There were 314 tracks operating in
3510-635: The United States by 1890; and in 1894, the American Jockey Club was formed. The Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack at the Alameda County Fairgrounds is the oldest remaining horse racing track in America, dating from 1858, when it was founded by the sons of the Spaniard Don Agustín Bernal. Bodemeister Bodemeister is a Bay horse with a white blaze . He was named after Bode Baffert,
3588-488: The addendum section, or Appendix, of the Official Quarter Horse registry. An Appendix Quarter Horse is a horse that has either one Quarter Horse parent and one parent of any other eligible breed (such as Thoroughbred, the most common Appendix cross), two parents that are registered Appendix Quarter Horses, or one parent that is a Quarter Horse and one parent that is an Appendix Quarter Horse. AQHA also issues
3666-625: The biggest purses . There is another category of races called handicap races where each horse is assigned a different weight to carry based on its ability. Besides the weight they carry, horses' performance can also be influenced by position relative to the inside barrier, sex, jockey, and training. Jump (or jumps) racing in Great Britain and Ireland is known as National Hunt racing (although, confusingly, National Hunt racing also includes flat races taking place at jumps meetings; these are known as National Hunt flat races). Jump racing can be subdivided into steeplechasing and hurdling , according to
3744-595: The care of race trainers, not all horse deaths were animals in race training nor were they necessarily race-related fatalities. Prior to Medina Spirit's death, Baffert had last been under intense scrutiny a decade earlier when seven horses in his stables at Hollywood Park died between November 2, 2011, and March 14, 2013, all from sudden and later unexplained heart attacks. In that period, 36% of all cardiac related horse deaths in California were animals trained by Baffert. California's equine medical director found that Baffert's horses were routinely given Thyro-L, or thyroxine ,
3822-582: The contest between the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology . Chariot racing was one of the most popular sports of ancient Greece , Rome and the Byzantine Empire . By 648 BCE, both chariot and mounted horse racing events were part of the ancient Greek Olympics , and were important in the other Panhellenic Games . Chariot racing was dangerous to both driver and horse, often leading to serious injury and even death. In
3900-527: The establishment of the Newmarket course in Salisbury, New York, a section of what is now known as the Hempstead Plains of Long Island , New York. This first racing meet in North America was supervised by New York's colonial governor, Richard Nicolls . The area is now occupied by the present Nassau County, New York , a region of Greater Westbury and East Garden City. The South Westbury section
3978-400: The exception of the longer, 870-yard (800 m) distance contests, Quarter Horse races are run flat out, with the horses running at top speed for the duration. There is less jockeying for position, as turns are rare, and many races end with several contestants grouped together at the wire. The track surface is similar to that of Thoroughbred racing and usually consists of dirt. In addition to
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#17327941328424056-513: The first generation of thoroughbreds, and all modern thoroughbreds are their descents. Thoroughbreds range in height, which is measured in hands (a hand being four inches). Some are as small as 15 hands while others are over 17. Thoroughbreds can travel medium distances at fast paces, requiring a balance between speed and endurance. Thoroughbreds may be bay , black , dark bay/brown, chestnut , gray , roan , white or palomino . Artificial insemination, cloning and embryo transfer are not allowed in
4134-679: The former due to the gaits used. Occasionally a horse will break their gait into an actual canter or gallop. This could cause the loss of a race or even a disqualification. Notable races include the Hambletonian and the Breeder's Crown series. Ridden trot races are more common in places such as Europe and New Zealand. These horses are trotters who race on the flat under saddle with a jockey on their backs. The length of an endurance race varies greatly. Some are very short, only ten miles, while other races can be up to one hundred miles. There are
4212-915: The more prominent racing bodies to either postpone or cancel all events. There are many types of horse racing, including: Different breeds of horses have been bred to excel in each of these disciplines. Breeds that are used for flat racing include the Thoroughbred , Quarter Horse , Arabian , Paint , and Appaloosa . Jump racing breeds include the Thoroughbred and AQPS . In harness racing, Standardbreds are used in Australia, New Zealand and North America. In Europe, Russian and French Trotters are used with Standardbreds. Light cold blood horses, such as Finnhorses and Scandinavian Coldblood Trotters are also used in harness racing within their respective geographical areas. There are also races for ponies: both flat and jump and harness racing. Flat racing
4290-413: The most common. Short races are generally referred to as "sprints", while longer races are known as "routes" in the United States or "staying races" in Europe. Although fast acceleration ("a turn of foot") is usually required to win either type of race, in general sprints are seen as a test of speed, while long-distance races are seen as a test of stamina. The most prestigious flat races in the world, such as
4368-731: The presence of oxygen. They are slow-twitch fibers. They allow muscles to work for longer periods of time resulting in greater endurance. Type II muscles are adapted for anaerobic exercise because they can function in the absence of oxygen. Type II-a fibers are intermediate, representing a balance between the fast-twitch fibers and the slow-twitch fibers. They allow the muscles to generate both speed and endurance. Thoroughbreds possess more Type II-a muscle fibers than Quarter Horses or Arabians. This type of fiber allows them to propel themselves forward at great speeds and maintain it for an extended distance. Type II-b fibers are fast-twitch fibers. These fibers allow muscles to contract quickly, resulting in
4446-402: The race that year, and Baffert also finished third with Indian Charlie. Real Quiet won the Preakness as well, but, like Silver Charm, the horse was denied a Triple Crown win and finished second in the Belmont Stakes by a nose. Baffert, however, became the first trainer in history to win the Derby and Preakness in back-to-back years. Baffert did not win another classic race until 2001, when he won
4524-510: The sixth race on April 2. The 90 day ban against Baffert was set to be honored in all 38 racing states. By the April 1 ruling, Baffert had already transferred four 3-year-old colts to other trainers. The most notable cases prior to Medina Spirit's test were the disqualification of Gamine after a third-place finish in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, also for betamethasone, and Triple Crown winner Justify, who tested positive for scopolamine after winning
4602-549: The son of his trainer, Bob Baffert . His pedigree includes notable horses such as his grandsire Unbridled and his damsire Storm Cat . The colt was sired by the Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker out of the mare Untouched Talent. He was sold as a yearling at the Keeneland September sales for $ 260,000. Bodemeister did not race as a 2-year-old, but emerged as a 3-year-old to come in second in
4680-450: The sport. Variations include restricting races to particular breeds , running over obstacles, running over different distances, running on different track surfaces , and running in different gaits . In some races, horses are assigned different weights to carry to reflect differences in ability, a process known as handicapping. While horses are sometimes raced purely for sport, a major part of horse racing's interest and economic importance
4758-533: The sport’s precision and competitiveness. These developments have contributed to making horse racing one of the most sophisticated and thrilling global sports today. Horse racing was one of the few sports that continued during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, with the Australian and Hong Kong racing jurisdictions carrying on, albeit with no crowds. The United States, the United Kingdom, and France were some of
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#17327941328424836-464: The systematic development of specialized breeds and equipment. The popularity of equestrian sports throughout the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have vanished once horses were no longer used in combat. In Britain, horse racing became well-established in the 18th century, and continued to grow in popularity. King Charles II (reigned 1649 to 1685) was an avid sportsman who gave Newmarket its prominence. By 1750,
4914-421: The third-place finisher, the previously undefeated colt Dortmund. American Pharoah next won the 140th Preakness Stakes, making six victories in that race for Baffert, who also finished fourth with Dortmund. Then, when American Pharoah won the 2015 Belmont Stakes , the win was the fourth attempt at a Triple Crown for Baffert, who at age 62 became the second-oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown. Baffert also trained
4992-486: The three main racing breeds above and their crosses, horse racing may be conducted using various other breeds: Appaloosa, American Paint Horse, Selle Français , AQPS and Korean Jeju . Muscles are bundles of contractile fibers that are attached to bones by tendons. These bundles have different types of fibers within them, and horses have adapted over the years to produce different amounts of these fibers. Type I muscle fibers are adapted for aerobic exercise and rely on
5070-403: The title of "Sport of Kings". Historically, equestrians honed their skills through games and races. Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and displayed the horsemanship required for battle. Horse racing evolved from impromptu competitions among riders and drivers. The various forms of competition, which required demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider, resulted in
5148-448: The trainer record for Preakness Stakes with eight wins and has won the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Oaks three times each. Baffert has been the subject of significant controversy regarding repeated incidents of his horses failing drug tests or dying under his care. He was suspended and later reinstated by Churchill Downs following the use of the topical steroid cream betamethasone on his Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit , who
5226-462: The type and size of obstacles being jumped. The word "steeplechasing" can also refer collectively to any type of jump race in certain racing jurisdictions, particularly in the United States. Typically, horses progress to bigger obstacles and longer distances as they get older, so that a European jumps horse will tend to start in National Hunt flat races as a juvenile, move on to hurdling after
5304-619: The world is the Mongol Derby , which is 1,000 km (620 mi) long. In most horse races, entry is restricted to certain breeds; that is, the horse must have a sire (father) and a dam (mother) who are studbook-approved individuals of whatever breed is racing. For example, in a normal harness race, the horse's sire and dam must both be pure Standardbreds. The exception to this is in Quarter Horse racing, where an Appendix Quarter Horse may be considered eligible to race against (standard) Quarter Horses. The designation of "Appendix" refers to
5382-527: Was announced that Bodemeister had been diagnosed with an injury to his left shoulder and would retire to stud. Bodemeister entered stud at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for the 2013 breeding season. His first foals reached racing age in 2016. Bodemeister saw his first winner on May 11, 2016, when gray filly Bode's Dream won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park . Bodemeister made the news when an unusual white-headed colt with splashed white markings
5460-435: Was born on June 5, 2016, later named Southern Phantom. "In 35 years in the industry I've never seen a Thoroughbred like this," said trainer Eric Guillot . "The mare hasn't thrown anything unusual before, but Bodemeister throws a lot of white. I've got a few by him with stockings and other markings, but this one's unique. It looks like he dunked his head into a five-gallon bucket of white paint." Bodemeister's stud fee for 2017
5538-656: Was developed by the Bedouin people of the West Asia specifically for stamina over long distances, so they could outrun their enemies. It was not until 1725 that the first Arabians was brought to North America, and not until about the time of the Civil War that they were bred as purebreds. Until the formation of the Arabian Horse Registry of America in 1908, Arabians were recorded with the Jockey Club in
5616-537: Was essential to funding and growing of the industry, and all classes, from paupers to royalty participated. Members of high society were in control, and they made a special effort to keep out the riff-raff and to keep the criminal element away from the wagering. With real money at stake, the system needed skilled jockeys, trainers, grooms, and experts at breeding, which opened up new careers for working-class rural men. Every young ambitious stable boy could dream of making it big. In addition to its rich history, horse racing
5694-536: Was later selected for the Hall of Fame, then with Plum Pretty in 2011 and with Abel Tasman in 2017. In 2010, Misremembered , a horse he bred, owned by his wife Jill and their friend George Jacobs, won the Santa Anita Handicap , marking Baffert's first Grade I win as a breeder instead of a trainer. According to his supporters, Baffert's style and personality, combined with his success, have made him
5772-496: Was never administered betamethasone. He told reporters that he would fight the issue "...tooth and nail." Nonetheless, Churchill Downs suspended Baffert from entering any horses at their racetrack pending the outcome of an investigation. Baffert responded by saying the situation "was like a cancel culture kind of a thing," a remark which earned him noticeable criticism from the press. On May 11, Baffert stated Medina Spirit had dermatitis , for which an ointment containing betamethasone
5850-524: Was scheduled to run March 8 through June 5. Baffert was granted a stay until April 4 to gain time for an appeal. However, the Kentucky Court of Appeals rejected Baffert's appeal on April 1. This in turn led to a ban from all California Horse Racing Board facilities beginning April 4 due to a rule removing any trainer under a 60-day or higher ban from all CHRB facilities. This included Baffert's home track at Santa Anita, although Baffert horse Shaaz won
5928-521: Was subsequently disqualified. Baffert grew up on a ranch in Nogales, Arizona , where his family raised cattle and chickens. When he was 10, his father purchased some Quarter Horses and he practiced racing them on a dirt track. In his teens, he worked as a jockey for $ 100 a day in informal Quarter Horse races on the outskirts of Nogales. From there, he moved to racing at recognized tracks, scoring his first victory at age 17 in 1970. Baffert graduated from
6006-510: Was used. Sports Illustrated suggested that the positive drug test was a sign that Baffert's "leaking credibility" had reached "the saturation point." On June 2, 2021, Medina Spirit's split sample also tested positive and Churchill Downs suspended Baffert through the end of the 2023 Spring Meet. On May 17, 2021, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) banned Baffert from entering Medina Spirit or any of his other horses in
6084-605: Was using the medication on himself. Nonetheless, in that case, Arkansas suspended Baffert for 15 days. His first suspension was in 1977 for misuse of morphine , but thereafter he had no violations for the next eight years. Controversy deepened when on December 6, 2021, Medina Spirit died of an apparent heart attack after a workout at Santa Anita Park . This reminded the public that since 2000, at least 74 other horses had died while in Baffert's stables. Though number of racing starts are used to calculate rates of death for all horses in
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