Among this most recent set of rulings, trainer Jorge Diaz has been suspended a total of 37 days and fined $3,500 for two separate violations.

Diaz was suspended for 30 days after his trainee, Melina's Dream, tested positive for an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) after finishing seventh at Parx Racing on Jan. 3. High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–or milkshaking–which can neutralize the build-up of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance.

Diaz was also suspended an additional seven days due to another trainee, Celtic Treasure, testing positive for Xylazine–a Class B controlled medication used as a sedative or analgesic–after running at Parx Racing on the same day. More detailed explanations of the rulings are currently unavailable on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) website.

The new rules on intra-articular injections are still catching a noticeable number of trainers off guard.

Trainer Elliot Sullivan has been suspended for 30 days and fined $2,500 for giving an intra-articular injection within 14 days of a race. Two other trainers–Philip Serpe and Rohan Crichton–have each been fined $3,000 for joint injections within seven days of a timed workout.

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Resolution Date: 04/01/2024
Licensee: Bernell Rhone, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Fury Cap, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 2/24/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/01/2024
Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on May 2, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Xylazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Celtic Treasure, who did not finish a race at Parx Racing on 1/3/24 (according to Equibase, Celtic Treasure was “injured in the early stages, pulled up and vanned off”). This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/01/2024
Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on April 2, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)–on Melina's Dream, who finished seventh at Parx Racing on 1/3/2024. This was also a possible violation of Rule 3313–Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period.

Resolution Date: 03/29/2024
Licensee: Philip Serpe, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Itsallcomingtogetha. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Resolution Date: 03/29/2024
Licensee: Elliott Sullivan, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility beginning on March 30, 2024; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, My d'Valentine. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injection Within Fourteen Days (14) Days Prior to Post-Time.

Resolution Date: 03/27/2024
Licensee: Blaine Wright, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Betamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Wodeton, who won at Golden Gate on 1/19/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Resolution Date: 03/27/2024
Licensee: Randy Preston, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Sharp Life, who finished fourth at Mahoning Valley on 02/20/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 03/27/2024
Licensee: Gary House, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Callas, who won at Tampa Bay on 2/11/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 03/27/2024
Licensee: Rohan Crichton, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Fighter in the Win. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 02/24/2024
Licensee: Sal Gonzalez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Mentirosa on 3/1/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 03/01/2024

Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Flint Ridge on 3/1/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 02/28/2024
Licensee: Mary Pattershall, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Shanghai Mike on 2/28/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 01/31/2024
Licensee: Arnaud Delacour, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vets' list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from J Rivers on 1/31/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/13/2024
Licensee: Robertino Diodoro, trainer
Penalty: Provisional suspension
Alleged violation: Possession of banned substance
Explainer: For the possible possession of Levothyroxine (Thyro-L). This is a possible violation of Rule 3214(a)–Possession of Banned Substances.
Read more on the story here.

Date: 03/04/2024
Licensee: Miguel Hernandez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Pre-workout joint injection violation
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Arizona Andrew. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 02/14/2024
Licensee: Odin Londono Jr., trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Private Drive, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/14/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 02/13/2024
Licensee: Carlos Lopez, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Major Lopez, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/13/24, as well as from Emperor's Gold, who was second at Mahoning Valley on 2/13/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

VIOLATIONS OF CROP RULE
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

GOLDEN GATE FIELDS
Francisco Alvarado–violation date March 30; $250 fine and one-day suspension
SUNLAND PARK
Felipe Sanchez Valdez–violation date March 28; $250 fine and one-day suspension

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The research team looked at seven randomized and controlled trials that spanned 74 horses and had been published in peer-reviewed journals. Horses were given sodium bicarbonate between two and a half and five hours ahead of exercise and had their results compared to control horses who did not get sodium bicarbonate. Exercise took different forms in different trials; sometimes the two groups of horses were put on a treadmill while in others they worked over the track. Both the time to exhaustion and performance were measured, and researchers could not find that the administration of the “milkshake” improved either factor in a statistically significant way. In fact, for treadmill exercises where time to exhaustion was measured, milkshaked horses actually performed slightly worse than their controls.

Sodium bicarbonate, usually given in the form of baking soda mixed with some sort of liquid, is typically given through nasogastric tube within hours of race time. It has long been believed by horsemen that the baking soda acts as a neutralizer of lactic acid, which is responsible for the feeling of achey or tired muscles during exertion.

For lead author Dr. Joshua Denham, lecturer in exercise science at RMIT University, the findings were not a surprise.

“Some recent reviews on the influence of sodium bicarbonate on endurance performance in humans have emphasized equivocal findings,” said Denham. “Given we know humans are prone to placebos, I was always skeptical about its utility as an ergogenic aid.”

Milkshaking has been banned within 24 hours of a race by most racing authorities, but the study suggests it “remains an issue in modern horse racing.” TCO2 tests, designed to pick up on the administration of sodium bicarbonate, are part of the standard pre-race testing procedures in most states, though not all horses in all races are tested in some places.

Besides being an uncomfortable and apparently unnecessary procedure, milkshaking can be dangerous if it goes wrong. In addition to potential gastric upset and possible injury to the nose and throat that can happen during tubing, an inexperienced practitioner can also send the tube down the trachea rather than the esophagus, sending the sludgy solution into the horse's lungs instead of the stomach.

It's not totally clear why people first began milkshaking horses, except that sodium bicarbonate ingestion was at one time thought to improve human athletic performance. The study authors note however that previous research shows this improvement at exercise periods of around four minutes in people, while flat races are significantly shorter. Of course, it's also possible human test subjects may have been influenced by a placebo effect.

“Although it's certainly not my area of expertise, I'm tempted to speculate that early positive findings in humans prompted trials in racehorses,” said Denham. “Some positive results may have occurred by chance or because the trials were always going to show positive results – whether it was on purpose or not. It reminds me of the church bell fallacy: Although one church bell rings at noon and another a block over rings one minute later, the first bell ringing did not cause the second one to chime. Once someone believes in something, it can be easy for them to pass on that information – whether it is accurate or not.”

The post Turns Out, Milkshaking May Not Do Much For Performance After All appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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