The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today that it imposed a six month penalty on trainer Jeffrey Mullins for violating NYRA’s monitoring barn rules and regulations. For the term of this penalty Mullins will be denied entry in NYRA races and will be denied access to NYRA grounds.

Mullins was charged with violating Aqueduct Race Day Security Barn Rules and Regulations as posted in the Aqueduct Winter/Spring 2009 Condition Book 4. Those charges were:

On April 4, 2009, at Aqueduct Racetrack, Jeff Mullins was present in NYRA Race Day Security Barn 12A in possession of a dose syringe, and when questioned by NYRA security personnel initially denied, and then later admitted, that he had brought the dose syringe into said NYRA Race Day Security Barn. Furthermore, on said date while at said location, Jeff Mullins used said dose syringe to administer a liquid substance, that he identified as cough medicine, to a horse.

These charges concerned Mullins’ entry of his horse Gato Go Win in the Bay Shore Stakes. The horse was scratched by the Stewards and was not permitted to race.

Following an administrative hearing conducted over two days where NYRA’s integrity counsel Getnick & Getnick presented NYRA’s case and where Mullins was represented by counsel, Mullins was found by an adjudicative panel to be in violation of the charges. The hearing was administered by outside counsel from the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. Following a review of the panel’s findings, NYRA senior management imposed the penalty announced today.

C. Steven Duncker, Chairman of the NYRA Board of Directors, said: “The events leading up to the imposition of today’s penalties demonstrates NYRA’s twin commitments to racing integrity and due process. NYRA got it right on the race day and thereafter. The horse was scratched. NYRA provided a full and fair hearing. I am proud of NYRA’s demonstrated seriousness in handling this matter.”

NYRA Integrity Counsel Neil Getnick said, “Racing integrity is a top priority for NYRA at all times. Today’s penalty reinforces NYRA’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field for its owners, trainers and the public.”