Northeastern-based owner/trainer David Jacobson has been fined $2,500 and will serve a 30-day suspension beginning May 30 for a total carbon dioxide violation from one of his horses at Penn National more than two months ago, according to a resolution posted on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit website.
Regulators test for total carbon dioxide, often referred to as TCO2, to prevent cases of "milkshaking," a practice of dosing a horse with a sodium bicarbonate solution to attempt to reduce the fatigue caused by lactic acid buildup in muscles during a race.
Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules prohibit alkalinization or the use or administration of an alkalinizing agent on race day. A measurement in the blood in excess of 37 millimoles "constitutes prima facie evidence of alkalinization or use/administration of an alkalinizing agent," according to HISA rules. TCO2 falls in the controlled substance category.
Jacobson received the standard 30-day penalty for his positive case, which involved the horse Got Thunder, who finished second in a $35,000 allowance race at Penn National March 21. The gelding, which Jacobson also owns, has been disqualified, forfeiting $7,000 in earnings.
A 5-year-old son of Arrogate, Got Thunder has since run sixth in a starter allowance at Aqueduct Racetrack and second in an allowance optional claiming race at Monmouth Park. Jacobson is a past leading trainer in New York.
No supporting documents have yet been posted to the HIWU website to accompany the resolution and penalties.
