Asmussen suspended for six months

[Beckron]

on front of drf.com

Don't mess with Texas.

[Lurker]

But he'll still be eligible for an eclipse award, no?

[Kermit]

He has three winners so far tonight at Lone Star.

[Zaphappy]

It's about darn time... was this positive result number 11, or #12 for his career?

Asmussen's strategy in 2009 has been to pile up the wins at Lone Star Park this season, dropping horses down with vigor and "perhaps" giving them the high test fuel. Unsaid message to Texas racing commission: "You need me to fill fields..."

[Srotagtbs]

I really like the 6 months he got. The $1,500 fine- not so much. He makes big bread anyway and if you want to send a message who better to use than Mr. Lidocaine himself. Since he's a 22nd time offender maybe triple or quadruple the suspension- 18 to 24 months. And then crush him in the pocket book by going big- $25,000. That sure would send a message. Texas got it half right here.

Now who's got the balls to start showing the public who's in charge? Outside of this, I'd say the trainers have the upper hand over the Racing Commissions, but WTFDIK?

[Winngcolrz]

I'm pretty sure I read that the amount that was actually discovered was so incredibly small it couldn't have race-enhanced--however, the TX Racing Commission DOES send a message to others who simply cannot control their stable operations. The name Mullins comes immediately to mind.....and was Maggie Moss the counsel on this deal?

I know that the testing is so sophisticated these days, and that numerous traces of this or that are liable to pop up ANYWHERE from ANYBODY'S horse, so I cannot stress enough that these bad actors keep coming up with a positive for some reason....whether is be a grooms' hands that are contaminated or a recent study that showed tons of different ingredients in your average stall or shedrow dirt, all of which could contribute to a bad test. But I also have to think about other barns with just as many horses or employees that are NEVER getting bad tests, so what's going on? I think the clean guys speak for themselves.

A high bute is one thing. A prohibited drug is quite another. I am sick and tired of bad tests, period.

Lisa