HALL OF FAME trainer Bob Baffert has been fined and stripped of £88,000 of prize money after star filly Gamine was found to have a Class C drug in her system.
A post-race blood test revealed the anti-inflammatory in Gamine’s system after the Kentucky Oaks last September.
Kentucky stewards published their findings after Baffert waived his right to a hearing.
The drug betamethasone found in the superstar filly is legal, but must have passed through a horse at least 14 days before a race.
The positive test was first reported in the New York Times and is one of a number of high-profile cases to have hit American racing.
Gamine was also disqualified from a May 2 race that she won at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
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A postrace test showed the local anesthetic lidocaine in her system.
Another Baffert horse, Charlatan, was disqualified the same day from his victory in a division of the Arkansas Derby for the same medication.
Baffert maintained that both incidents were the result of accidental contamination as the result of one of his employees wearing a patch that contained lidocaine.
Oaklawn stewards suspended him for 15 days.
Baffert has appealed the test results and disqualifications at Oaklawn. The cases have yet to be heard before the Arkansas Racing Commission.
Australia racing has also been hit by a drugs storm after Jarrod McLean was banned for three years.
The Aussie admitted to giving horse Cats Fun an EPO.
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