Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Golden Gate — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:19:17 GMT

I am just getting started in the race horse business as an owner and breeder. Already I have run across at least one trainer that I have asked not to give my horse anything unless it is for pain before first calling me. Unfortunately w/o calling me he has administered a number of substances (they are legal but are still drugs).

It is like trainers can be quite arrogant especially with new owners in the business. I spoke to a friend and she told me "Well welcome to the race horse business!"

I told her I thought it was wrong and she agreed but said basically well what can you do?

And she is actually on my state thoroughbred board 0-:

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Matthew W — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:24:27 GMT

Air Power is for blowing out foam (caused by being exited/having tongue tied--its a better way than the traditional wet towell) I consider doing this a FAIR edge since it benefits the HORSE/ATHLETE--I'm CERTAIN Jeff Mullins would not care one bit if everyone else uses it--again, this works to benefit the horse! Mullins is cocky because Mullins is good--Jeff Mullins has won at every level in this sport and now he has The Derby Favorite! Jeff Mullins is a guy who always wants to win/tries AND WORKS for the edge/I believe has gone over the edge at times---The Aqueduct incident was NOT one of those times, really--everyone should clear out/dry out their horses's mouths! Mullins should've said that--instead of whining in The Big Apple--c'mon--be tough! AND be glad you brought that other horse, less I Want Revenge gets the Air-scratch

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Karen in Texas — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:30:54 GMT

August Song---I'm making one more attempt. Please show me your source material in regard to your statement about the effects of Air Power. Thanks.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Wanda — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:54:27 GMT

I don't want people to think I agree with what he did in the test barn but as I said on another site, air power is like taking Buckley's. I'm sure they took samples from the horse but don't state that there may have been another substance in the air power. Let's wait and see how this play's out before making all these claims that are unsubstantiated.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Karen in Texas — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:50:51 GMT

Wanda---Yeah, facts are facts. I'm trying to get this person to show me how he arrived at such a definitive statement. Notice how there has been no reply so far. This unfortunate situation was negative enough without unsubstantiated medical claims.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Wanda — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:15:53 GMT

Karen in Texas I with you on that one. I have used that product when my husband and I trained racehorses and we never ever thought for a minute that it did anything more than what it stated on the syringe. Furthermore we NEVER had a bad test using any of the products out there for use race day.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Karen in Texas — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:46:59 GMT

August Song---Would really like to see your sources on the Air Power effects statement.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

BANBIANCONE — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:23:14 GMT

Another apropos "why would I?" Mullins incident: He received a 90-day suspension (of which he was to serve no less than 20-days) stemming from a 2006 mepivacaine case adopted by the California Horse Racing Board. According to a 1/25/08 Bloodhorse article, "Mullins steadfastly maintained his innocence after a gelding in his care, Robs Coin, was found to have tested in excess of the regulatory threshold level for mepivacaine, a local anesthetic commonly used in equine veterinary procedures. It is a Class II violation of CHRB medication rules." Mullins defense (through his attorney): "He was a perfectly healthy horse; he would not have needed mepivacaine."

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

subber — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:07:44 GMT

The system is working until the guilty party is punished. I want revenge or at least some justice.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

DerbyDay — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:22:27 GMT

Jeff Mullins made a very rookie mistake that should not be tolerated. Air Power would not have made any difference in the potential outcome of the race. However, it was a violation of a long standing rule and someone who is training the Derby favorite definitely should have known better. Every other trainer who races in NY can abide by the simple rules, why not JM? If he makes a simple, yet costly mistake like that...what other mistakes are being made???

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Karen in Texas — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:06:46 GMT

August Song---You state "it may facilitate the creation and retention of red blood cells" in your 4/9/09 2:21 A.M. post in reference to Air Power. Please list your source material for me. Thanks.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

For Big Red — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:29:19 GMT

TO STEVE: In a USA Today article this morning entitled "Separate horse racing incidents draw criticism, investigations," Arthur Hancock was quoted as follows:

"Our livelihood depends upon the public perception of our industry," [Hancock] said Thursday in Lexington, Ky. "Anything that happens that takes away from that good, positive energy is killing our livelihood, so I'm extremely disappointed."

Steve, Mr. Hancock has it exactly right. Everyone in or connected to the sport suffers due to the actions of people like Mullins and Paragallo. That's what I was getting at in my earlier post above.

Sure, positive improvements shouldn't be overlooked. However, neither should the damage caused by incidents like these be under-estimated. The industry's decades-long history of hiding, ostrich-like, from its critical problems must end.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

eyeswideopen — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:14:16 GMT

As anyone who has raced in NY knows, they do check anything carried in at monitoring barn check-in, but they do not pat you down. Jeff Mullins was with Rick Dutrow's people and they certainly should know the rules. As to the guards watching him administer the Air Power, its not their place to stop anything like this, just to report it to their superiors. As to Ernie Paragallo, he has already transferred all racing stock into his daughters' names so his business can proceed no matter what is done to him, makes him look even guiltier in my book. He and all his family need to be censored by the entire racing community, he knew what was going on, he is a total control freak, why do you think he changes trainers like he changes socks, no one can stand to have him looking over their shoulder 24/7. And as far as the Dr Stewart deal, his 5 year ban has been upheld and to a vet, that is basically a lifetime, just equate it to the mark up on dispensed medication: $25 bottle of Lasix = 10,5cc shots at $20 each, kind of like doing the math in dog years.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Harp — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:27:10 GMT

Rather than debate about who gave what to whom and when, isn't the simplest solution is to just BAN all race day medications? The story is that if a horse needs cough medicine (or Lord knows what else) to get through a race, it probably shouldn't be racing that day or the next few, should it?

Yes, I live over the rainbow, but I dare to dream that someday, American racing will get it right, once and for all. As long as fuzzy logic debates continue about withdrawal times, what's illegal, what's therapeutic, etc., nothing will get done and there won't be positive coverage. That doesn't sell papers, magazines, podcasts or generate tune-in.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Stanley Marcinkowski, Plowville,Pa — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:00:56 GMT

All racetracks must have pre-race security detention barns especially when on Dec 8 John Veitch Ky state steward and former trainer of Alydar admitted using cobra venom in Alydar

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Hawkeye — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:23:30 GMT

Every time an event occurs it seems that the media jumps on one band wagon or another. I wasn't there and neither were most of you. We are always so willing to immediately put the blame on someone or something without being fully informed. We are just learning the hows and whys of making racing better and safer. Everyone wants a piece of it but are those who have the pen and those in charge of seeing it through really as knowledgeable as they should be? "Look before you leap" applies here. Don't be so sure that what you read is really what occurred the way in which it was written. We tend to make mountains out of mole hills before we have the information correctly. To make things absolutely clear we should ban the Lasix too. Doesn't anyone think that a horse needing to race on Lasix has a problem and maybe should not be racing for health reasons? In my experience, when a doctor asks a patient what medications they are taking, the patient only thinks of prescription medications and forgets the over the counter ones. It never occurs to the patient that omitting the non-prescription medications could adversely effect his health. To make it very clear the physician needs to ask "What prescribed and not prescribed medications including herbals, vitamins etc. are you taking?" With thoroughbreds constantly moving from track to track there should be a short orientation to specific rules and regulations of the receiving track given to trainers and other personnel responsible for the horse. Leave no doubt in the human mind as to what can be given and what cannot. I just hope no one comes up with some new technical advance that states peppermints can adversely effect the outcome of a race.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Dennis A — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:34:19 GMT

This is really pitiful, to be the trainer and not know the rules- Please. As for the guards aren't they there to stop those things from happening? I'm old school--there should be no drugs period end of story. If a horse needs drugs it is not fit to run. Break the rule and the hammer comes down,you get a serious reprimand. That cobra drug thing should of resulted in permanent suspensions for both the trainer and the vet. What goes on in horse racing today is symptomatic of our society today shortcut,shortcut, shortcut.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

August Song — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:21:11 GMT

Mr. Haskin, you make an excellent point that the system that, was set up by NYRA with the detention barns, worked. Some further tweaking, or adjustment in the system might be in order. Did the detention barn officials who saw Muilins have the capacity to just observe, or to be able "to police" and give direct indisputable orders? There is a major difference I believe, and something that is probably being clarified now.

Air Power, (and we are not certain that it was solely Air Power in that syringe), may not be just "a cough drop," as Mullins was quoted as saying. In addition to being a breathing enhancer, it may facilitate the retention and creation of red blood cells. Baking soda seemed rather innocuous at one time, too, didn't it? Mullins has proven to be a known drug cheat with his horses in the past. The system worked this time but, we need to stop pandering over and over, to the same people who continue to test the limits of how far they can go, before enough is enough.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

CCallman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:09:50 GMT

Kafkaesque! Are we saying this stuff was RIGHT IN THE BUCKET? And then it was almost missed? Are we brain dead or what. Only way to say we are actually being serious about drug policy is to install airport style security. In addition everyone gets patted down. Forget the just the detention barn, this has to be done 34/7. Heck, amatures can make birds fly out of their shirt sleaves and rabbits appear in empty hats. The system is working? Paleese!

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Bellwether — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:51:48 GMT

tighten the SCREWS on the CHEATING or KILL the game...we have seen the lies & cheating going on in our goverment ALSO...we the people are getting FED UP!!!...CLEAN THE KINGS CLOTHES UP NOW!!!...good work to NYRA...

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

needler in Virginia — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:56:24 GMT

Actually, AlexH, "barely working" is a damn sight better than not working at all. We all knew that the problems racing has were not going away easily or quickly, and just because the general public doesn't like the face of racing right now does NOT mean racing will snap to attention, apologize, and do everything the "right way" in an instant. Changes take time, but NYRA and the KHRC and the California folks (sorry....I don't remember ALL the initials!!) and racing commissions all over the country have implemented changes that ARE cracking down on the drug jerks, be they trainers, vets or the idiot owner who was stopped from using a black felt tip pen to cover a white spot inside his horse's nostril because he said it was "ugly" (honest to God, I heard him say it!). As far as I'm concerned, any control is better than none, and, in the case of drugs, a LOT of control is better than a little.

So here we are pissing all over Mr Mullins, and quite rightly.....he really has no excuse for "not knowing". Thank goodness someone was doing his job and noticed what Mullins did. Better that than just ignoring it! Baby steps, my friends, baby steps.... not fast enough or large enough for me, but this is better than nothing ..........don't you think?

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

john becerra — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:36:59 GMT

i am from california and as an avid horse player and fan of the sport i am very disgusted yet very familliar with jeff mullins.....the guy walks around the 3 race tracks like if he owned them....like hes unstoppable.....well i say lets put a stop to it...NOW...what r we waiting for how many more chances does he get...i understand he is not the only one....but yet his name always pops up....we have a local columnist from the la times who is the only one with the courage to bring some light to the situation...in case the east coasters did not know there was a time in tj simmers column in the la times were he called the horse player idiots for betting on horses.... i understand where steve haskins is coming from yet this guy does not deserve the benefit of the doubt ..the chrb has dropped the ball on this guy to many times and now im pleading to the nyra..please please dont drop the ball ....he is a cheater and will continue to cheat until the hammer drops on him......

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

The Rock — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:21:57 GMT

Steve,

I've noticed some posts that have mentioned about the possibility of the trainer's administering something to the horses the night prior to entering the detention barn. Aren't these horses tested regardless once they're in the detention barn or sometime after they have just raced?

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

Dona — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:14:36 GMT

Mullins' actions says he won't be punished. He obviously knew the worst would be public outcry and a wink and a nob here and there, otherwise it would not have happened. If anyone believes he didnot know you couldn't or shouldn't administer medicine of any type in the holding barn is kidding themselves and are true believers in the Easter Bunny. A trainer of his experience knows what he's doing and I for one believe it was simply a case of catch me if you can while I pretend to be doing something above board. Isn't the idea of crooks acting like nothing is going on or abnormal, something that's familiar to anyone? Haven't we all watched enough movies to see how easy it is to fool someone or everyone? You don't need to go to a movie, just watch the news on a daily basis.

You totally missed the point about the Sheik, sure he took responsibility for it, what, that makes it okay? Sounds familiar, "mistakes were made" and inquiries will ensue, let's move on and not dwell in the past. Do the deed and if you get caught, just own up to it and everyone will admire your actions.

Call me old fashioned but I still blame someone for doing wrong, because it was wrong!

To say the system is working is a laugh. If the system was working, Mullins would have been stopped at the door, asked about the contents of his bucket and so on. The news would be reporting "Mullins was reported to have medication in his possession that was not appropriate and the articles were handed over to the stewards for review", the holding barn staff was just doing their job.

What I find interesting is that you saw an incident and thought nothing of it. What, it's not your job? You didn't know the guards were supposed to inquire about the contents in his bucket? Didn't want to get involved? You couldn't say, hey Jeff what ya hiding in the bucket, just kidding. Maybe someone would have taken their job more seriously. The fact that they observed him in action is no credit to them. That's their job. He should have been stopped at the door. Then, you could say the system is working.

re: Let's Look at the Bright Side of Mullins Incident

For Big Red — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:01:14 GMT

From a news article, Steve Blanchard, the vice president of sales and marketing for Finish Line, said Jeff Mullins misused the product when he administered Air Power in the detention barn to a horse about to race.

Blanchard is quoted as saying, "My position is to train all of our employees in presentation and explanation of all our products. They have all been trained that you tell your trainers not to bring our product into a detention barn. I do believe that even without our direction, all trainers know that."