Setting Record Straight on Asmussen Suspension

[Rupert Pupkin]

I just want to set the record straight on the Asmussen suspension for the mepivicaine positive in Louisiana. This is from Daily Racing Form: "Everyone involved agrees that the filly was given an injection of an illegal nerve block on March 24, the day she stopped badly halfway through the race at Evangeline Downs."

This should put to rest some of the nonsense posted here that the drug was given for dental work. This drug is not used for dental work.

You guys should go to drf.com and read the article. It is entitled "In Drug Case, Facts Hard to Pin Down". Asmussen actually admits that he told the vet to give the filly two illegal medictions on race day. Those of you that said that a top trainer like Asmussen would not order a vet to give a filly an illegal medication were wrong.

They have testimony from Asmussen's hearing. I was surprised that Asmussen actually admitted that he asked his vet to administer magnesium sulfate and calcium thiamine on race day which are illegal to administer on race day and are "impossible to detect in postrace samples." His vet claims that he he wouldn't do it because he knows it is illegal, yet these items appeared on the owner's bill. Magnesium sulfate is considered an alkalizing agent(just like a milkshake) which increases endurance.

With regard to the nerve-block, there is nobody that denies the horse was given a nerve-block. Asmussen does not even deny it. The only question is who gave it and who ordered it. It appears that either the vet or the assistant trainer gave the horse the nerve-block. Any vet would know how to do it. The article says that some really experienced assistant-trainers may even be knowledgable enough to administer it.

The bottom-line is that nobody involved with the case denies that the horse was given a nerve-block. The only people that deny it are a couple of naive posters on this board.

[DiscreetCat=Monster]

Barry Bonds

[Scurlogue Champ]

If all this is true, why don't they just tell him he can't train anymore. Ever

I don't understand the light sentences here in America. The worst thing about this coming to light is that it is plausible to believe that this was/is a normal thing in not only his barn, but many of the other top operations. If he got caught this time, how many times did he not get caught?

And if Pletcher has a positive that they keep letting him appeal until he wins all the big stakes races and no one will notice in January when he serves, how many times has it happened there and everyone looked the other way?

Cheating doesn't even seem to be something that is looked down upon in racing. Just seems like it is an inconvenience that the tracks and racing commissions don't want to deal with.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

If all this is true, why don't they just tell him he can't train anymore. Ever

I don't understand the light sentences here in America. The worst thing about this coming to light is that it is plausible to believe that this was/is a normal thing in not only his barn, but many of the other top operations. If he got caught this time, how many times did he not get caught?

And if Pletcher has a positive that they keep letting him appeal until he wins all the big stakes races and no one will notice in January when he serves, how many times has it happened there and everyone looked the other way?

Cheating doesn't even seem to be something that is looked down upon in racing. Just seems like it is an inconvenience that the tracks and racing commissions don't want to deal with.

You are absolutely right. They get away with cheating 99.9% of the time. It's pretty much a fluke when they get caught. My guess with Asmussen is that they normally have some other drug that they give along with the mepivicaine that masks it, but in this case they forgot to give the masking drug.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

You are absolutely right. They get away with cheating 99.9% of the time. It's pretty much a fluke when they get caught. My guess with Asmussen is that they normally have some other drug that they give along with the mepivicaine that masks it, but in this case they forgot to give the masking drug.

I had my coffee while reading this article. Very compelling.

It is impossible for me not to believe illegal administration of drugs is very widespread.

The smaller the track, the more drugs are used?

The cheaper the horse.... ditto?

At least NY uses security barns.

Louisiana swung pretty hard as Assmussen. Good for them.

Some thoughts:

1. Pain (or any performance enhancing) drugs should only be administered by track vets, race day or otherwise.

2. Security barns for every track.

3. I'd make these kind of offenses carry non-probationable, mandatory sentences.... i.e., First offense: 1 Year suspension + $50,000 fine, and so on.

In the end, if some of today's fragile horses couldn't run due to the lack of their race day medications and some tracks had to run fewer days or close altogether for lack of entries, that's ok with me.