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.