Mullins Suspended 7 Days

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by pointman

Pants, I think you are missing the point here. This punishment shows there is no deterrent for violating the detention barn rules. It does not matter what was in the syringe, there is a clear policy that you cannot give a horse anything in the detention barn. A strong punishment would have sent the message that they are serious about this policy. No trainer should be unclear about this rule. If they gave a strong punishment, no trainer would dare take a risk. With this penalty, the risk is worth the reward.

I personally do think that it matters what was in the syringe. By no means am I trying to defend Mullins (I have my own opinion about the guy). But, didn't he mention that he had a horse that was administered Air Power a week or two earlier, when in the care of Anthony Dutrow (I know another interesting case)? He's a guy who is from out of town and got caught doing something that he probably thought was legit. I totally understand the detenion barn rules, but if it could be proved that a horse was treated with the air power weeks earlier, then there are apparently other bigger problems to worry about at the detention barn. Also do you think there would be as much outrage if it was a guy like Michael Matz who shipped in and got caught? I think it was a fair punishment, it was cough syrup, but since it was Mullins people want him lynched.