Originally published Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 8:10 PM
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Retire? Emerald Downs' octogenarian trainers just keep stalling
H.R. "Pat" Mullens, 82, wanted to build a nest egg so he started working with horses — 37 years ago
Seattle Times staff
H.R. "Pat" Mullens couldn't wait to end his military career in the Air Force so he could train horses.
"I just needed to build a nest egg before I started," said Mullens, who began training about 37 years ago. "I'm going to keep going until I can't get down here [to Emerald Downs] any more."
Mullens is 82 and the same attitude keeps Arturo Arboleda, 85, Eulia Bischoff, 83, and Bob Meeking, 81, going. They each have horses who run at Emerald Downs.
Bischoff's daughters tried to get her to quit long ago, afraid she might get hurt. She doesn't need to work, but to her this really isn't work.
Mullens, who is among the more successful trainers at Emerald Downs and who has a 20-horse stable, feels the same way.
"I just love it," he said.
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
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