By Dan Ross
Over the last few months, several California backstretch veterinarians have been placed on probationary periods by the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) for alleged problems in their practice of veterinary medicine.
The latest backstretch veterinarians to face such disciplinary actions are Vince Baker, placed on probation for four years, and Sarah Graybill Jones, placed on a three-year probationary period. The effective date for both probationary periods was Aug. 21.
These disciplinary actions signify an ongoing conundrum for backstretch veterinarians in California, who have found themselves afoul of the CVMB for veterinary procedures and approaches that are deemed legal under the California Horse Racing Board's (CHRB) rules.
Baker and Graybill Jones are two of six Southern California-based backstretch veterinarians who have been placed on probation by the CVMB so far this year. The veterinary medical board has filed complaints against at least another 15 backstretch veterinarians.
The various complaints and accusations against California's backstretch veterinarians are similar in nature and reflect a yawning schism between the veterinary board and the CHRB concerning approaches to standard equine veterinary care.
The main areas of conflict surround what the CVMB deems prescribing and dispensing medications or treatments without an examination or forming a diagnosis, how to define the proper veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) on a racetrack backstretch, and the prophylactic use of medications.
The CHRB has updated its rules on compounded drugs with the aim of clarifying another area of disagreement with the VMB.
Several equine veterinary experts have said that a key part of the conflict surrounds the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act–the overarching rules by which all licensed veterinarians must comport their business–which is almost entirely geared around small animal practice, and therefore is unrepresentative of the practicalities of herd health on a racetrack backstretch.
In an effort to resolve the differences between the two agencies, veteran equine veterinarian Barrie Grant was appointed to the VMB earlier this year by California Governor, Gavin Newsom. The veterinary board has also established an Equine Practice Subcommittee.
Baker is the long-time veterinarian for Bob Baffert, trainer of Medina Spirit, who finished first in the 2021 G1 Kentucky Derby, only to be disqualified due to a post-race betamethasone positive. The following December, Medina Spirit suffered a sudden cardiac death during training.
Due to the high-profile litigation surrounding Medina Spirit's disqualification from the Kentucky Derby, and the horse's subsequent death, the CVMB's disciplinary actions Baker, Medina Spirit's track vet, have proven a lightening-rod on social media.
The CVMB accused Baker of several causes of discipline including alleged negligence in the practice of veterinary medicine, the “dispensing of dangerous drugs without medical necessity,” prescribing “controlled substances without medical necessity,” and failure to establish VCPR.
The TDN reached out Friday morning to attorney Lisa Brown, who represents Baker, for comment. Brown has not yet responded.
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