Churchill Downs moves quickly to erase presence of disqualified Kentucky Derby winner

One day after Medina Spirit was disqualified by racing stewards as the winner of the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs officials had already replaced signage at the racetrack to honor the horse now recognized as that race’s champion.

Medina Spirit was officially disqualified Monday as the result of a postrace drug test last year showing use of a medication not allowed on race days. The horse’s trainer, Bob Baffert, was suspended from racing in Kentucky for 90 days and fined $7,500.

Track officials did not waste any time erasing Medina Spirit’s presence from Churchill Downs, sending a worker out into the rain to take down the Medina Spirit sign and replace it with Mandaloun’s.

Monday’s stewards’ ruling can still be appealed, but, for now, Mandaloun will go down as the winner of the 147th Kentucky Derby.

“Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting achievements in sports and we look forward to celebrating Mandaloun on a future date in a way that is fitting of this rare distinction,” said a statement from Churchill Downs shortly after Monday’s ruling was announced.

Medina Spirit’s disqualification not only meant that second-place finisher Mandaloun was declared the winner. The rest of the field, including Hot Rod Charlie, who finished third, and Essential Quality, who finished fourth, also will move up in the official order of finish, for now at least.

All of Medina Spirit’s purse money must be forfeited as a result of the ruling. However, pari-mutuel wagering on the Kentucky Derby was not affected by this ruling.