By Ray Paulick -- In racing's ongoing drug war, the fiercest battles are being fought on the backstretch.
Tuesday, April 06, 2004Random pre-race testing for "milkshakes"--the loading of bicarbonates through a stomach tube to reduce fatigue-causing buildup of lactic acid--began at Santa Anita Park in late February, but the California Horse Racing Board is referring to the program as a survey because no penalties will be applied if a horse tests positive.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004The Arizona Department of Racing approved a pilot program for equine "milkshake" testing and increased the number of ELISA tests to 25 from 15.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004The Illinois Racing Board has amended its medication rules to drastically increase the penalties for a positive "milkshake" test and also bans any type of hypodermic injection of a horse 24 hours before a scheduled start.
Friday, February 27, 2004The Arkansas Racing Commission began testing for erythropoietin antibodies Sunday as part of a series of changes to the state's medication rules.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004Kentucky has taken its ban on "milkshakes" in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing one step further with a specific directive that naso-gastric tubes cannot be used at all on raceday, even for therapeutic purposes. The commission said the directive was issued "to inform current and newly licensed veterinary practitioners of current policy."
Tuesday, November 27, 2001In what is believed to be a record fine for a Standardbred horseman in Kentucky, Dale Loney, a trainer and driver, was fined $5,000 after tests revealed two of his horses had been "milkshaked" on the same race day at Thunder Ridge Raceway in Prestonsburg.
Monday, November 05, 2001