Trainer James E. Nicholson Jr. has been suspended 15 days by stewards in Pennsylvania after his runner Rockin Cowboy tested positive for cobalt.
The 10-year-old gelding won the fourth race, a $5,000 claimer, at Parx on April 19 and was later disqualified. Nicholson waived his right to a split sample testing and to an appeal. He was also fined $500 and assigned four multiple medication violation penalty points.
Nicholson's suspension will begin July 20 and run through Aug. 3.
The cobalt positive came from a race that took place prior to the implementation of national medication regulation and testing under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and its enforcement arm, the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit. HISA/HIWU regulations state that the presence of cobalt constitutes an anti-doping violation. It results in a provisional suspension while the case is pending and may carry as much as a two-year suspension and a fine as high as $25,000.
Cobalt is a mineral found in small amounts in horses' diets. It's considered normal to find some cobalt in a horse's blood, but excessive amounts are regulated in many states, as they're believed to come about from administration of drugs or supplements aimed at improving performance. (The concentration found in Rockin Cowboy was not listed in rulings from the Pennsylvania stewards.) For many years, regulators and horsemen believed it could be given in excess and have a performance-enhancing impact by boosting red blood cell production, based on its action in human athletes. More recently, studies have indicated it may behave differently in horses and may not have the same effects on performance or endurance.
According to Equibase, Nicholson has saddled 64 starters so far this year, with five winners.
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