A Derby Winner’s Drug Test Won’t Change the Bets. Here’s Why.

A failed drug test has cast doubt on Medina Spirit’s victory at Churchill Downs. But people who bet on him to win will keep their money either way.

So now that the Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has failed a drug test, I can cash my bet on the second-place finisher, Mandaloun. And my buddy who bet Medina Spirit will have to return his winnings, right? Well, no. Betting rules at horse racing tracks, off-site wagering venues and internet sites are very clear in cases like this. Once a race has been declared official, a few minutes after it is over, the betting is final. Winners can collect their cash, and losers can tear up their tickets.