PETA urge horseracing chiefs to ban Bob Baffert, claiming ’75 horses in his care have died’ 

PETA has scolded trainer Bob Baffert and wants him out of the sport, claiming that “75 horses have died in his care” following news that yet another of his horses was euthanized on the track during Saturday’s Preakness undercard.

Kathy Guillermo – senior vice president of the animal rights advocacy group – lashed out at the organizers of the triple crown race for allowing Baffert access to the track.

The latest controversy surrounding the 75-year-old comes barely two months after a federal judge rejected Baffert’s request to have his two-year suspension lifted by Kentucky Derby coordinators, which the Hall of Fame trainer described as a “cancellation culture.” rejected. ‘ in 2021.

“Pimlico should have followed Churchill Downs’ example and kept Bob Baffert off the track,” Guillermo told DailyMail.com exclusively. Baffert has been implicated in drug scandals, the deaths of seven horses that collapsed in California, and at least 75 horses he tended to have died.

Havnameltdown’s tragic death is the latest in a long line of fatalities. The racing industry needs to kick out the bad guys or it will have blood on its hands as well as blood on its tracks.”

Havnameltdown’s death comes weeks after the Kentucky Derby was overshadowed by eight fatalities over a 10-day period leading up to the May 6 race.

Havnameltdown, owned by Baffet, died on Preakness after Saturday’s undercard race

Baffert is running horses on Preakness weekend for the first time in two years after returning from a suspension following the failed drug test of 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

He was unable to enter any horses in the Derby for the past two years as part of a Churchill Downs decision and was unable to have any in the 2022 Preakness of Belmont due to a 90-day ban in Kentucky respected by Maryland and New York. York.

One of his horses, Arabian Lion, won a previous race. Baffert will also saddle National Treasure in the Preakness.

On Saturday, after sharing the announcement of Havnameltdown’s death, the seven-time Preakness winner said he and his team were devastated by the thoroughbred’s passing.

Havnameltdown’s death came after Churchill Downs let eight horses die in the space of 10 days

“This is a shock to everyone in our stable who loves and cares for these horses every day,” Baffert wrote on Twitter. Hanvameltdown obviously got hit pretty hard coming out of the gate. We don’t know if that contributed to the injury, but we will be completely transparent with those reviewing this terrible accident.”

While horse racing deaths in the US are at their lowest levels since they were tracked in 2009, adding another one to the track hosting a Triple Crown race will only intensify the industry’s internal and external scrutiny.

Those in it have said they accept the reality of horse deaths on the track, while also recognizing that more work needs to be done to prevent as many as possible.

In that spirit, new national medication and doping rules will take effect on Monday. The federally mandated Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which already regulated track safety and other measures, will oversee drug testing requirements for horses that should standardize the sport across the country.

Before that, Mage has a chance with a Preakness win to become the first horse to enter the Belmont Stakes with a shot at a Triple Crown since Baffert’s Justify in 2018.