Clamping down in the use of Milkshakes

Tate: timing of drug test cost Crack his chance
BY DAVID MILNES 9:28PM 7 JAN 2016
NEWMARKET trainer James Tate is up in arms about the timing of random testing at Chelmsford City this evening which he believed may have affected the performance of his runner in the last race at the Essex track.

The Newmarket trainer was unhappy about being informed that a blood sample would be taken from his runner Crack Shot only 40 minutes before he was due to line up in the 7f totepool Handicap at 8.10pm.

Usually, blood and urine testing takes place post-race and Tate was also dismayed after the offer of this option was withdrawn by BHA vets and Crack Shot was sampled as planned.

He said: "At 7.15pm this evening I was called by Chelmsford steward Robert Sidebottom and told that Crack Shot would be tested at 7.30pm, just before he was to be tacked up.

"I was more than annoyed as he's a nervous, highly strung horse who doesn't like needles and has to be sedated even to be be plated, and I asked if he could be tested two hours afterwards in the usual way.

"After this was agreed, this offer was for some reason then withdrawn and I was told Crack Shot had to be tested pre-race."

'Would they do it to the Derby favourite?'

The BHA vets did take a sample from Crack Shot, who was sent off at 4-1, as well as the rest of the field as planned and he then went on to finish fourth behind Gentlemen in the race, beaten six and a quarter lengths.

Tate, a qualified vet, added: "I know that they are out to get people they suspect are using 'milkshakes', and I know it's only the 8.10 at Chelmsford, but would they test the favourite for the Derby only 40 minutes before he was to run at Epsom? I think not.

"I have no problem with the testing as we have periodical visits to our yard in the usual way but it's the timing of it with this particular horse that is the issue.

"I'm all for cleaning up the sport but it has to be done in the right way. As my horse is so adverse to needles this should have been made known to the betting public as he came there but then flattened out."

BHA: routine procedure

Robin Mounsey, communications officer for the BHA, said: "The stipendiary stewards discussed the issue with James after he raised his concerns. He made the decision to run the horse after the test was successfully completed without the horse becoming upset.

"We understand the point James is making, but it is routine for horses to be tested pre-race and to the timescales employed last night."

The chief component of the banned 'milkshake' is thought to be sodium bicarbonate which buffers the lactic acid in a horse's stomach that enables them to tire less quickly in a race.

Was this why the horse was " sold" et Turffontein ?

Been pre race testing for this for ages at our tracks. Every meeting a horse is tested in every race.

Interesting that if at least one horse is tested pre-race,and as we know from the original statement ,horses runs can be adversely affected by pre-race testing ,should the punters not know ,pre-race,which horses are tested as it may well affect their selection!

Remember the peter horse that was claimed from 20/1 into 4/1 then told it was getting pre raced tested and disapeared into thin air (sold )

rob faux wrote: Interesting that if at least one horse is tested pre-race,and as we know from the original statement ,horses runs can be adversely affected by pre-race testing ,should the punters not know ,pre-race,which horses are tested as it may well affect their selection!

After the test feasible....otherwise defeats the objectives

Magi wrote:

rob faux wrote: Interesting that if at least one horse is tested pre-race,and as we know from the original statement ,horses runs can be adversely affected by pre-race testing ,should the punters not know ,pre-race,which horses are tested as it may well affect their selection!

After the test feasible....otherwise defeats the objectives

The trainers are told they are being tested

rob faux wrote: Interesting that if at least one horse is tested pre-race,and as we know from the original statement ,horses runs can be adversely affected by pre-race testing ,should the punters not know ,pre-race,which horses are tested as it may well affect their selection!

I owned a horse that was pre-tested - He hated it and ran bush. Next time won at 14/1 but the public did not know unless they read stipes reports(I halved my bets after he started to get worked up after being tested but how could the public have known )

Magi wrote:

rob faux wrote: Interesting that if at least one horse is tested pre-race,and as we know from the original statement ,horses runs can be adversely affected by pre-race testing ,should the punters not know ,pre-race,which horses are tested as it may well affect their selection!

After the test feasible....otherwise defeats the objectives

Of course ..................but testing should be done as they step off the float ................nothing being tested for is likely to be administered in the public eye !!!!