Summerveld training centre in the morning (Gold Circle)
Although the NHA have at present not fined trainers for being over the TCO2 threshold, the damage done to reputations can be hard to repair in an industry in which the general public have scant knowedge of medication control and horse physiology.
A name attached to a press release for a “positive” is usually thought by the public to be a “dope artist”, whereas in most cases the positive is for a therapeutic substance which did not withdraw in time before the race.
Likewise names attached to scratchings for TCO2 are being taken note of by the fickle public.
The public should take note that these scratchings are intended as part of the education process for everybody on the issue.
That is why there are no fines at present.
It has become evident, as industryman have started reading extensively on bicarbonate soda and raised levels of TCO2, that this is a naturally occurring substance in a horse and the levels can rise through practices done inadvertently and apparently even environmental factors like the weather and the time of season can effect the levels, as can feed, the time of feed and excercise.
The wide normal range of TCO2 is said by some to be 23 to 38 mmol/L, although the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) have set the threshold at 36 and South Africa’s NHA have raised it from an intial 36 to 37.
Those whose horses have been scratched up to now for elevated TCO2 levels should not be villified as “dope artists”.
It is a learning curb and some of the teething problems have obviously been extreme, but this all looks to be for the good of the SA racing industry in the long run.
