Bob Baffert, the famous horse trainer known for his long history of success in horse racing, was emotional as he tried to come to terms with a bittersweet day at the Preakness Stakes. On one hand, one of his horses, National Treasure, had just won the prestigious race, marking Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension. On the other hand, just hours earlier, another one of his prized 3-year-old colts, Havnameltdown, was put down after suffering a left leg injury during an undercard race.
Speaking about the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced on the day, Baffert said, “This business is twists and turns, the ups and downs. To win this – losing that horse today really hurt… It’s been a very emotional day.”
National Treasure won the race in a nail-biting finish, holding off Blazing Sevens to cross the finish line and claim victory by just a head. Jockey John Velazquez, who rode the horse, said, “He fought the whole way. He put up a really good fight… That’s what champions do.”
National Treasure paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place, and $2.60 to show. Blazing Sevens paid $5 to place and $2.80 to show. Mage, who was the 7-5 favorite, finished third after a relatively slow pace during the race.
Despite the excitement of winning the Preakness once again, Baffert’s emotions were raw and conflicted throughout the day. The death of Havnameltdown cast a heavy shadow over the festivities, prompting the erection of black barriers on the track while the horse was put down. Even the music playing during the race seemed incongruous with the somber moment: 2Pac’s “California Love” blared from the infield speakers as the crowd mourned the loss of Havnameltdown.
Baffert’s suspension last year prevented him from entering a horse in the Preakness, making this year’s win all the more significant. It marked his record eighth Preakness win, breaking a tie with 19th-century trainer R. Wyndham Walden. Baffert is a two-time Triple Crown winner, having trained American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018.
This year’s Preakness was not without controversy, however. Questions have persisted about Baffert’s history of using performance-enhancing drugs on his horses, and his most recent Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, was disqualified after failing a drug test.
As concerns about on-track horse deaths continue to simmer, industry insiders have called for more efforts to protect horses and reduce fatalities. New national medication and doping rules, which come into effect on Monday, are seen as a step in the right direction. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a federal agency, will be responsible for drug testing requirements and other safety measures across racetracks across the country.
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On a tumultuous day at Pimlico Race Course, trainer Bob Baffert experienced both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Baffert, a Hall of Famer and a longtime face of horse racing, choked back tears as he tried to process the contrasting emotions of one of his horses winning the Preakness Stakes and another being euthanized on the same track.
National Treasure, the 5-2 second choice, held off hard-charging Blazing Sevens down the stretch to win the 1 3/16-mile, $1.65 million race by a head in 1:55.12. The victory marked Baffert’s return to the Triple Crown trail following a suspension. However, it came just hours after another 3-year-old colt, Havnameltdown, was put down due to a left leg injury in an undercard race.
“This business is twists and turns, the ups and downs,” Baffert said. “To win this – losing that horse today really hurt… It’s been a very emotional day.”
Mage finished third, ending his bid for the Triple Crown. His defeat, caused by a pace much slower than the Derby, means there will not be a Triple Crown winner for a fifth consecutive year.
Baffert’s rollercoaster day was highlighted by the victory of National Treasure in the Preakness and Arabian Lion in an earlier stakes race, and contrasted with the agony of Havnameltdown’s death. Baffert’s record eighth Preakness win was celebrated in the evening, breaking his tie with 19th-century trainer R. Wyndham Walden. In 2018, Baffert matched Walden with seven wins at the Baltimore race with Justify, who went on to become the sport’s 13th Triple Crown winner – and Baffert’s second, after American Pharoah ended a lengthy drought for the sport in 2015.
This was Baffert’s first Preakness in two years due to a ban stemming from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s failed drug test that led to a disqualification in that race. Medina Spirit was Baffert’s most recent Preakness horse, finishing third. Baffert sought to keep a lower profile than usual given the questions that have dogged him and clouded his reputation, arriving in Baltimore only on Thursday.
However, the day was marred by Havnameltdown’s death, adding to the ongoing scrutiny of the industry. While horse racing deaths in the U.S. are at their lowest level since they began being tracked in 2009, on-track deaths of horses attract both internal and external scrutiny, with calls for action towards prevention. In that vein, new national medication and doping rules are set to go into effect on Monday. The federally mandated Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which already regulated racetrack safety and other measures, will oversee drug testing requirements for horses that should standardize the sport nationwide for the first time.