JC / Railbird

Trainers/Training Archive

Who’s the Idiot Here?

Trainer Jeff Mullins, perhaps feeling a little grumpy now that he’s been busted for cheating, tells writer T.J. Simers that the problem with racing is “all the addicts and idiots crying because they lost a $2 bet.” Ouch. Of course, if it weren’t for racing fans, there’d be no purse money for trainers. The cranky Mullins had sharp words for fellow trainers and racing officials as well:
“For a guy who has won as many Breeders’ Cup races as Mandella has, I’d like to see his tests…. I would think Bruce Headley’s horses are over [the testing limit] every time they run. How do we know? The testing results are never released. Headley’s sister-in-law, Ingrid Fermin, is on the [California Horse Racing Board], and ever since I claimed Choctaw Nation, one of Headley’s horses, Fermin has been after me.”
Mullins had been one of top trainers at Santa Anita, winning at a rate of 30%, until he was cited three weeks ago for running a horse with excess carbon dioxide levels (read: milkshaking). His win rate has since fallen to 9%. (LA Times)
More: Mullins brings up a legitimate conflict of interest question, writes Sherry Ross. It’s just a shame he lashed out at bettors when he articulated it. (New York Daily News)
Trainers and racing officials react to Mullins’ comments: “It sounded to me like he blew his top,” says trainer Bobby Frankel. “What he said about the bettors was inappropriate and not true. There wouldn’t be a track if there weren’t the gamblers. There are a lot of straight shooters in this game. [Mullins] made it sound like we’re all a bunch of crooks.” (LA Times)

Posted in Trainers/Training on March 6, 2005

Volume, Volume, Volume

Trainer Steve Asmussen’s stable has 180 horses and stretches from coast to coast, notes Ralph Siraco, and it’s no surprise that he blew by Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg’s record of 496 winners in one year on Saturday. “Asmussen is the Wal-Mart of horse race trainers. He is a volume dealer. On Saturday, he started a career-high 30 horses. In one day!” (Las Vegas Sun)

Posted in Trainers/Training on November 22, 2004

A Day In the Life

Of trainer Todd Pletcher. “Pletcher’s home is 3.1 miles from his Belmont Park barn. On this morning, Sunday, Oct. 17, he arrived at his barn at 4:26, but only after he had inspected both the training track and main track. Pletcher wanted to see how overnight showers affected both tracks. He was satisfied with the condition of the main track, so all workouts would be conducted there. Pletcher had 40 horses to take to the track in six sets, 16 to work, 22 to gallop, and 2 to jog.” And that’s just the start. (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Trainers/Training on October 23, 2004