NEWS
Mullins suspended for drug violation
Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008 3:34 PM
JEFF MULLINS
Benoit & Associates photo
The California Horse Racing Board has suspended trainer Jeff Mullins for a positive test of the Class 2 drug mepivacaine in one of his horses in July 2006.
The board adopted a proposal from administrative law judge David Rosenman to suspend Mullins for 90 days. The final 70 days will be stayed, provided that Mullins obeys all horse racing laws and CHRB regulations during a one-year probationary period.
The suspension period will begin on February 15.
Mullins was cited because Rob’s Coin exceeded the threshold level for the local anesthetic in a post-race urine analysis after a second-place finish in the seventh race at Hollywood Park on July 8, 2006. The horse was claimed out of the one-mile race for $40,000 by trainer Dan Hendricks for C. Patrick Milligan. Rob's Coin finished second.
Several other high-profile trainers have been cited for mepivacaine violations in recent years.
Todd Pletcher received a 45-day suspension and $3,000 fine for a mepivacaine violation at Saratoga Race Course from August 2004.
Pletcher's penalties were identical to those received by Richard Dutrow Jr. for a mepivacaine positive at Aqueduct in April 2003.
Steve Asmussen served a six-month suspension for a mepivacaine positive at Evangeline Downs from March 2006. Asmussen was fined $2,500.
