LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Bob Baffert set foot inside Churchill Downs for the first time since 2021 on Wednesday, and like anyone else, he needed a tour of the place to familiarize himself with the dramatic changes in the famous racetrack.
But he still knows his way to the winner’s circle. The winningest Kentucky Derby trainer in modern history returned to Churchill after a three-year ban and saddled a winner in his first race. Barnes, a 2-year-old son of Into Mischief who was purchased by Amr Zedan for $3.2 million as a yearling, ran his first race and pulled out a photo finish over D. Wayne Lukas-trained Innovator.
The two Hall of Famers watched the race in the paddock, then stood together watching the photo finish.
“This is like Cavonnier and Grindstone,” Baffert said, referring to the 1996 Kentucky Derby thriller won by Lukas’ Grindstone.
Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert watch a photo finish between their horses on Nov. 27, 2024.
This time, Baffert came out on top.
He took a grand tour of the renovated racetrack before the race, and greeted Churchill Downs president Bill Carstanjen with a hug in the paddock. Baffert was greeted by other trainers before the race.
“I’m just happy to be back,” Baffert said. “I got a tour of the facility, what they've done since the last time I was here is just unbelievable. You know how nice it is. What a scenery it is, the paddock area and everything is so nice.”
Baffert was suspended by Churchill Downs in June of 2021 after his colt, Medina Spirit, tested positive for a banned substance after winning the Kentucky Derby that year. That suspension stretched to three years as the parties battled in court. Baffert had to give up training any horses in his care who wanted to be eligible to earn Derby points. Churchill finally lifted the suspension in July of this year, allowing Baffert to run horses at the track again.
The trainer wouldn’t necessarily have a high-profile colt make his debut in Kentucky, but said he was going to be here to spend Thanksgiving with his wife’s family in Tennessee, and thought it would be a good time to get back into the swing of things at Churchill.
Barnes, with rider Martin Garcia, after winning his first career race at Churchill Downs.
Barnes is named for Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes, and carried high hopes into his first race. When he returned to the winner's circle, Baffert asked jockey Martin Garcia, "Could you feel the 1,000-pound weight you were carrying?"
“What a way to come back to Churchill Downs,” Baffert said. “I wanted to come back here with a good horse, and he'll get a lot of experience. He flew here. He got over the ground well. So, he handled everything really well. But it was tough. My old buddy D. Wayne Lukas, we’ve been battling for the last 30 years, and it came down to us. I felt like Grindstone and Cavonnier back in 1996. But you know, just to be back here, it's just enjoyable. I have great memories here at Churchill Downs. It's a historic racetrack, and it's just, it's just a great day. It's a glorious day.”
Bob Baffert flashes two thumbs up after a post-race interview in his return to Churchill Downs. His 2-year-old Barnes was a winner in his career debut.
Baffert said he felt like the suspension would be lifted and he’d be able to race again at Churchill one day. But that it was a good day when he found out he would be able to return.
“I thought eventually, you know, I'd get back here,” he said. “But it’s something that is behind me now. It’s water under the bridge. And as a trainer, you have to focus what's in front of you. . . . The people at Churchill have been great, they’ve been very supportive, and it's been good ever since I was able to come back here. Everybody's happy, and it's good for the sport.”
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