HIWU suspends Jacobson for 30 days for TCO2 violation

Northeast-based owner and trainer David Jacobson was fined $2,500 and must serve a 30-day suspension beginning May 30 for one of his horses violating the carbon dioxide regulation. Penn National more than two months ago, according to a resolution published on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit website.

Regulators check total carbon dioxide levels (often referred to as TCO2) to prevent cases of “milkshakes,” which involve giving horses a sodium bicarbonate solution to reduce fatigue caused by lactic acid buildup in the muscles during a race.

Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules prohibit alkalinisation or the use or administration of an alkalinising agent on race day. A blood level of over 37 millimoles “constitutes prima facie evidence of alkalinisation or the use/administration of an alkalinising agent under HISA rules”. TCO2 falls into the category of controlled substances.

Jacobson received the usual 30-day penalty for his positive case involving the horse Have thunder who finished second in a $35,000 horse race at Penn National on March 21. The gelding, also owned by Jacobson, was disqualified and lost $7,000 in prize money.

Got Thunder, a 5-year-old son of Arrogate, has since finished sixth in a Starter Allowance race at Aqueduct Racetrack and second in an Allowance Optional Claiming Race at Monmouth ParkJacobson is a former leading trainer in New York.

No evidence of the solution and the penalties has yet been published on the HIWU website.