In the last sixteen months, Bob Baffert has lost seven thoroughbreds under his training care. "Sudden Death Syndrome" has been noted as the cause, and the deaths are seen as a "statistical anomaly."
Santa Anita Race Track
When an ordinarily healthy horse returns to the barn after a workout or race and dies within an hour, the death is defined as Sudden Death Syndrome.
When an ordinarily healthy horse returns to the barn after a workout or race and dies within an hour, the death is defined as SDS. Bob Baffert has an unusually large number of horses and horses under his training and care have won over 2,000 races including three Kentucky Derbies, five Preaknesses, one Belmont and seven Breeders' Cups.
The owners of the horses he trains think of him as a great horse trainer and he appears to have their full support. Although Baffert does not have a horse in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, his horse Midnight Lucky is in the prestigious Kentucky Oaks race.
Baffert released a statement through a public relations firm a few weeks ago, and on Thursday morning he maintained that he wants to know what is going on with the horses as much as anyone. Although his main barns are at Santa Anita, the horse deaths occured at his stable at Hollywood Park. The deaths occurred in what was originally the Quarantine Barn, which should be especially clean because of the cleaning protocols in place.
Although final toxicology reports will be coming this summer, investigators have been unable to find a single cause or any wrong doing in the feeding, care, and environment of the horses. In the meantime, Baffert is angry about what's happening in the rumor mill and the fact that someone has complained to PETA.