BANNED trainer Bob Baffert will compete at the Breeders’ Cup but with a host of additional security measures.
The top US trainer will be subjected to 24-hour surveillance and watched via body cams at American racing’s premier Flat festival.
The enhanced measures have been brought in after his horse Medina Spirit failed a drugs test in the wake of his Kentucky Derby win.
Hall of Fame trainer Baffert, 68, has been banned from Churchill Downs, site of Medina Spirit’s victory, for two years.
But he and the horse, who subsequently passed an out-of-training test, are all OK to race at Del Mar, California, in the Breeders’ Cup.
Medina Spirit is an 11-2 shot to pick up the £2.3million winner’s prize for scooping the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday night.
Between now and then though, and in the days leading up to the action starting tonight, Baffert, who denies any wrongdoing, has had to bear the brunt of enhanced security measures.
Yahoo reported that one of the ‘conditions’ Baffert had to agree to in order to compete was ‘unprecedented’ screening.
This, according to the LA Times, includes 24-hour security monitoring.
One security officer strapped up with a body cam has been assigned to each of Baffert’s horses.
Normally, one person will watch two or three horses and body cams are not used.
Baffert said: “We are happy to accommodate the transparency.
“We will care for our horses as we always do and any testing or observation is welcomed.”
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