Baffert fined for Derby Day acts

Trainer Bob Baffert has been fined $500 by the Churchill Downs stewards for two separate altercations with security personnel on Kentucky Derby Day.

According to chief steward John Veitch, who conducted a telephone conference on the matter on June 3 with Baffert, the first incident occurred in the paddock runway as Derby horses were being led over from the backstretch. Baffert allegedly made contact with a security officer who would not permit an associate of Baffert's into the paddock because the man did not have the proper credentials.

The second incident, according to Veitch, involved Bode Miller, the Olympic skier. Baffert saw that Miller was not being allowed into the paddock for the Derby and intervened, ultimately tearing off the security officer's credential to hand it to Miller so that Miller would have a credential.

Both security officers are retired Lexington, Ky., policemen. Veitch said Baffert informed him during the teleconference that he intended to contact both men to apologize.