Bob Baffert is a name that conjures all kinds of feelings in the minds of horse racing enthusiasts. But irrespective of whether you love him or hate him, the 72-year-old trainer is set to return to Churchill Downs on May 3rd and eye his record 7th Kentucky Derby title. For Baffert, it represents a chance to right the wrongs of the 2021 Derby, when Medina Spirit’s failed drug test stripped him of the title, while Baffert was handed a 2-year ban from Churchill Downs. “I very much look forward to returning to Churchill Downs and getting back to the Winner’s Circle,” Baffert shared. Baffert may have redemption on his mind, but even now the question marks about his training methods linger.

With the Kentucky Derby occurring in less than a fortnight, the focus is naturally on the 3 Baffert horses that made it to the race: Citizen Bull, Rodriguez, and Madaket Road. But while these horses represent the current pinnacle of Baffert’s stables, there’s also the opposite side of the coin. And a concerning detail has emerged of two Baffert horses that don’t quite have the spotlight shining bright on them. So what’s going on?

If you check out the Equine Fatalities section on the California Horse Racing Board’s official website, you’ll notice that this month, in April 2025, Bob Baffert has already lost two of his horses. The unfortunate reality of the sport is that the death of horses is inevitable. But with Baffert’s track record, including his history of horse deaths and multiple drug violations, these deaths are likely to raise more questions.

On April 3, Willy passed away during training, and then on April 17, so did Non Compliant. Both deaths took place on the Los Alamitos racetrack, and the cause of death has been listed as musculoskeletal for both. The 4-year-old Willy was an unraced colt, unlike Non Compliant. Although the three-year-old filly had only participated in two races in her career, Non Compliant emerged on top on both occasions, including at last year’s G2 Oak Leaf Stakes.

More notable than that, though, was her pedigree; Non Compliant was sired by Tiz the Law, the runner-up at the 2020 Kentucky Derby and the winner of a slew of G1 races such as Champagne, the Florida Derby, the Travers Stakes, and even the Belmont Stakes, one of the most anticipated events in the horse racing calendar and the third race of the American Triple Crown.

On Thursday, California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten shared some details about the incident with City News Service, mentioning that the horse “sustained an injury while galloping early this morning.” With the Kentucky Derby fast approaching, these deaths will no doubt raise questions once again about Bob Baffert’s methods. After all, his history of horse deaths under his care paints a concerning picture.

Bob Baffert’s long history of equine fatalities

Bob Baffert has been under the spotlight before due to the number of horse fatalities linked to his training. Since 2000, over 70 horses in his care have died in California, making him the trainer with the highest fatality rate per race among the state’s top trainers. One statistic from the Washington Post in 2021 showed that Baffert’s stable recorded 8.3 horse deaths per 1000 starts in California since 2000. This was, in fact, the highest rate among California’s 10 trainers who had the most catastrophic injuries.

Between 2011 and 2013, Baffert’s problem with equine deaths was exacerbated even further when seven of his horses died of cardiac arrest, even prompting an investigation by the California Horse Racing Board. According to trainers and vets, cardiac arrest is not a common cause of death among thoroughbred racehorses. The investigation revealed that all the horses had received thyroxine, a thyroid hormone that’s not typically used in racehorses, which can lead to serious heart issues if not handled properly.

Baffert admitted to using the drug, but he didn’t face any penalties. Then in 2023, Baffert came under fire for yet another horse death. This time it was Havnameltdown, who was euthanized at the 2023 Preakness Stakes after he stumbled at a turn. The incident even prompted PETA to condemn the state of affairs in horse racing and call for Baffert to be banned from Pimlico, though this recommendation was not acted upon in the end.

The numerous horse deaths linked with Baffert, coupled with the drug violations—brought to stark relief during the Medina Spirit incident—reveal the other side of his overwhelming successes. Although it’s his eye-catching wins that often make the headlines, these controversies have also raised many doubts about his training methods, his place in the sport, and the rules and regulations of horse racing itself. However, it is worth mentioning

These incidents, along with other controversies, have led people to think that Baffert’s training methods might put horse safety at risk. However, it’s worth mentioning that from 2018 to 2023, Baffert’s fatality rate has actually been lower compared to a lot of other big stables in California.