MEDINA SPIRIT - a racehorse trained by Bob Baffert - died suddenly on December 6, 2021. His death is currently under investigation, with results of a necropsy and laboratory testing of specimens still pending. Dr. Jeff Blea - a veterinarian - is the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), and he is expected to play an important role in the investigation of MEDINA SPIRIT's sudden and untimely death.

An anonymous complaint was submitted to the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) against Dr. Blea earlier this year. A formal accusation outlining a number of allegations was subsequently filed on December 17, 2021. The CVMB will soon be deciding on the accusation which includes negligence in prescribing, dispensing or administering of medications; unprofessional conduct including the dispensing of dangerous drugs without medical necessity; violating the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act; and improper recordkeeping. Click here to view and obtain a copy of the action.
Dr. Blea is facing the possibility of having his license to practice veterinary medicine suspended or revoked, in addition to paying fines of up to $5,000 as determined by the CVMB.

Per reporting by The Los Angeles Times, Scott Chaney - the CHRB's Executive Director - has indicated that Dr. Blea will continue "to serve the CHRB and the horse racing industry during the due process phase of this matter."  The California equine medical director's job - as described by BloodHorse earlier this year - includes "advising the Board on matters pertaining to equine health and welfare ...<to> help oversee the CHRB's drug-testing program, work with investigators on medication violations, liaise with those peers directing programs at the University of California, Davis, including the Postmortem Program, and work with Official Veterinarians in their oversight of practicing veterinarians."

The action of the CHRB - to permit Dr. Blea to continue to work in the capacity of "equine medical director" - is both outrageous and a complete embarrassment to the sport of horse racing. Remember Bernie Madoff? Letting Dr. Blea work as equine medical director is tantamount to having permitted someone like Madoff work on behalf of the SEC while on trial for his securities fraud and ponzi scheme. Absolute outrage! If you agree that the activities of the CHRB should be audited and investigated, and that Dr. Blea should be immediately relieved of his duties and prohibited from performing any of the aforementioned activities on behalf of the CHRB (and "the horse racing industry") while his accusations play out before the CVMB, then please join me and demand change by signing this petition. Please, for the love of horses and horseracing!