Mullins and the Little Syringe That Could

njc2000 · Postby **njc2000** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:00 am

Actually, Air Power is not illegal, just it's administration in the detention barn. It is common practice to give Air Power, Wind Aid or the equivalent of any of these products to horses as a pre-race "lung opener". Sort of like a eucalyptus/menthol cough drop to open up the airways before going for a run.

Whether or not it actually enhances performance is another question- I have won races with it's use and without it's use. There is no denying the audacity (can't call it stupidity because he undoubtedly knows better) of this trainer in attempting to flaunt the very clear and precise rules pertaining to behavior in the holding barn.

What irks me most about this entire episode is that someone like Mr. Mullins who constantly bends/breaks rules has a freaking barn full year after year. Those of us that DO follow the rules and run a clean barn with honestly and integrity have trouble getting top quality horses/owners because winning (by ANY means?) is still the name of the game.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:10 am

good points about Air Power. I've never used it, so unknown whether it "works". Just add that I'd think breathing aids instead of being performance enhancers allow horses with airway problems to perform.

Danzig · Postby **Danzig** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:02 pm

Regardless if AirPower is illegal or not, Mullins broke the rules...period. He has, and will continue to, break rules as long as it suits his purpose. Rule him off and do the same to the Lukas and Baffert wannabes, and anyone else, regardless of the size of their barns, until they realize that they are not above the rules that all should play by.

Until then, this sport will exist on the same level as "professional wrestling" within the eyes of the American public. Clean it up now or forever suffer the consequences.

*edited for language

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:52 pm

Good grief, I just found out it was AirPower. Mullins is an idiot for getting busted for a legal, everyday remedy, because he took it into the detention barn. Track officials don't look too good either, but what else can they do?

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:11 pm

Hey Dray, I commend your idealism, but it is not realistic. As long as there are purses, and owners, and feed bills there will be people pushing the envelope. Sad, but true. And, when the purses go away, the owners will go away, and the sport will go away and the bettors will have to switch to betting on a couple basketball games a week instead of 9 races a day.
I try to be realistic, myself. I will use something legal that is NOt detrimental to the horse. If the product is nondetrimental and does not test and has some benefit to the health and well being of the horse I will use it. Ma as well be honest about it. If I have to be careful in the adminstration of said product (Air Power, ie) I will be careful. There ain't much that makes a horse faster that won't test. Blocks, cobra venom can take pain away, but too many jocks are pals of mine, I'm not risking orphaning their children, others will. When they beat me with a sore SOB who can't feel anything below his withers, well, pragmatically, they counted on luck and on that day it was on their side.
We here in the trenches have to be realistic. Publicly bashing a trainer for something stupid like Air Power only empowers the PETA whackos and their ilk. When Biancone went down for cobra venom I thought it was great and only lamented that (with his history) it was such a short suspension. But the Mullins thing needs to go quietly away unless someone wants to take out air time on every primetime and sports channel to EXPLAIN to the public what is going on instead of sensationalizing by headlining the words "SYRINGE" and not really extraplolating from there.

photofinish · Postby **photofinish** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:17 pm

Tiz wrote:Good grief, I just found out it was AirPower. Mullins is an idiot for getting busted for a legal, everyday remedy, because he took it into the detention barn. Track officials don't look too good either, but what else can they do?

See, herein lies the confusion. As the purists are claiming, it is not "legal" on race day. NOTHING outside of hay, oats, and grain is legal. BUT, the stuff is harmless and doesn't test. So, to us racetrackers it constitues "legal" but it's administration inside 24hrs IS NOT. Ahh, the "slippery slope"........ :roll:

BenB · Postby **BenB** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:12 pm

If it is illegal to use anything on racedays except hay, water, etc

Than it should be very clear, a full fast punishment as these guys won,t
accept the message without it (punishment).

There is no need for taken into account whether the stuff test or not

So just a couple of months aside will help them to get the message.

As rules are there for everbody so also for them guys.

dray33 · Postby **dray33** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:17 pm

Good points photofinish. I think that you are right, if there is a substance that can help a horse, and is legal, I would hope my trainer uses it, as needed.

The question I have to ask myself is; If the substance that can help the horse but is illegal, would I use it?

And the final, more pathetic question of all is; if there is an illegal substance that can be harmful to a horse, but enhances performance, woulf I use it?

I admire your commitment to the safety of the jock, having them as personal freinds is a great motivation for safety and concern.

Also, thanks for the clarification of air power. Having so many bleeders and bad breathers here in the USN I can understand the need.

However, people have got to start respecting the laws. And the easiest motivation of respectful behavior is fear... Fear of real punishment.

Anyway, the responsible and fair trainers out there are getting screwed just as badly as the guys like me who just pay the bills. One day, instead of caving, they will revolt. I however, will just walk.

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:41 am

photofinish wrote:Hey Dray, I commend your idealism, but it is not realistic. As long as there are purses, and owners, and feed bills there will be people pushing the envelope. Sad, but true. And, when the purses go away, the owners will go away, and the sport will go away and the bettors will have to switch to betting on a couple basketball games a week instead of 9 races a day.
I try to be realistic, myself. I will use something legal that is NOt detrimental to the horse. If the product is nondetrimental and does not test and has some benefit to the health and well being of the horse I will use it. Ma as well be honest about it. If I have to be careful in the adminstration of said product (Air Power, ie) I will be careful. There ain't much that makes a horse faster that won't test. Blocks, cobra venom can take pain away, but too many jocks are pals of mine, I'm not risking orphaning their children, others will. When they beat me with a sore SOB who can't feel anything below his withers, well, pragmatically, they counted on luck and on that day it was on their side.
We here in the trenches have to be realistic. Publicly bashing a trainer for something stupid like Air Power only empowers the PETA whackos and their ilk. When Biancone went down for cobra venom I thought it was great and only lamented that (with his history) it was such a short suspension. But the Mullins thing needs to go quietly away unless someone wants to take out air time on every primetime and sports channel to EXPLAIN to the public what is going on instead of sensationalizing by headlining the words "SYRINGE" and not really extraplolating from there.

But here's the thing photo, you're careful to not cross the line. So are all of the top trainers which is why they aren't getting hauled before the stewards every other week for a silly infraction. Mullins on the other hand figures if he doesn't get punished for putting his toes over the line then it must be okay. And if it is okay to put his toes over the line then why not half his foot. That is pushing the envelope which most good trainers don't have a need to do because they can be very successful staying inside the rules. Mullins has to cross the line because he isn't a good enough horseman to compete if he doesn't. So yes, this infraction was silly, but it isn't a small deal because he was deliberately breaking the rules because he thought he wouldn't get punished, and he was willing to treat the racetrack like fools so he could cash a check.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:54 am

I am really perplexed at those people who keep insisting that it is a minor thing to have administered this medication. Regardless of how effective or ineffective it might be, it is a RACE DAY MEDICATION, which is prohibited, period. Hey, sodium bicarbonate is a pretty common compound, but milkshaking is banned as a same-day treatment, too.
All race day medications are banned in NY and CA, he knows it, and he tried to casually administer it right under the noses of the stewards in a detention barn. He really does think everyone else is an idiot. The stewards need to get his attention and suspend him for at least six months. Let's not forget that he kept milkshaking after the deadline, and when he was placed until detention watch in CA, his win percentage went from 41% to 16%. He blamed it on the stall relocations. Really?

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 1:05 pm

My understanding is that the rules prohibit administration of drugs. There is a substantial question whether Air Power is in this definition. It certainly would be out of the scope of prohibited substances in Kansas. We might ask what good can come from overreaction to a minor infraction where the substance administered is stamped "will not test".

Might racing better be served to put this sort of thing in perspective. The much more important questioned involved is whether horses should receive Air Power or other like substances for their own well being. Mullins, and other professional trainers obviously believe this helps the horse to breathe.
And so, does anybody have the backbone to stand up for the horse hear instead of jumping off the cliff?

Heidilady · Postby **Heidilady** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:29 pm

ratherrapid wrote:My understanding is that the rules prohibit administration of drugs. There is a substantial question whether Air Power is in this definition. It certainly would be out of the scope of prohibited substances in Kansas. We might ask what good can come from overreaction to a minor infraction where the substance administered is stamped "will not test".

Might racing better be served to put this sort of thing in perspective. The much more important questioned involved is whether horses should receive Air Power or other like substances for their own well being. Mullins, and other professional trainers obviously believe this helps the horse to breathe.
And so, does anybody have the backbone to stand up for the horse hear instead of jumping off the cliff?

This isn't about standing up for the horse. If you're talking the significance of what he was going to be given, that's really irrelevant. This is about standing against a rule breaker and quite frankly a guy who's gotten away with all sorts of crap and turns the stomach of people that want to see this sport's reputation improve. Just because something supposedly won't test doesn't mean you now have permission to administer it in the detention barn. There are plenty of things that used to not test or don't test now that people would consider much less innocuous. The makers of Air Power said their people tell trainers not to use it in a way that's inconsistent with the rules, i.e. in detention barns, etc. I don't care if Mullins was going to give Gato Go Win a blueberry smoothie in that barn, he knew better, he did it anyway.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:37 pm

agree with majxmom. He's not technically supposed to do it in CA and he does do it in NY. AND if it has no actual medicinal benefit, then why do it as regularly as one pulls on one's socks and shoes? When one's career is tainted with medication infractions, wouldn't one be more careful to abstain for the appearance of teetering on the brink of bad behaviour when in someone else's back yard?
Keep your nose clean and people will forget about your past lapses in judgement and view you as legitimate instead of viewing you as a career long cheat.

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:22 pm

Airpower as a race day medication? It's one of those things that trainers do, routinely, that probably doesn't make a bit of difference. It isn't a medication, unless putting Vick's in your nose, when it's stuffed up, is medicating. Is Traileze a medication as well? Overboard, way overboard on the purist idealogy.

"Will not test" Of course it won't test. Anyone that can read a label would know there isn't anything in it to test. That's a statement related to overboard disclaimers, as in "Don't use this hairdryer in the shower".

Ingredients list for Airpower
honey, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, menthol, oil of eucalyptus, lemon juice, and ethyl alcohol.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:43 pm

Tiz wrote:Airpower as a race day medication? It's one of those things that trainers do, routinely, that probably doesn't make a bit of difference. It isn't a medication, unless putting Vick's in your nose, when it's stuffed up, is medicating. Is Traileze a medication as well? Overboard, way overboard on the purist idealogy.

"Will not test" Of course it won't test. Anyone that can read a label would know there isn't anything in it to test. That's a statement related to overboard disclaimers, as in "Don't use this hairdryer in the shower".

Ingredients list for Airpower
honey, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, menthol, oil of eucalyptus, lemon juice, and ethyl alcohol.

One of the more sensible quotes