Ontario Racing Commission orders cobalt testing

Daily Racing Form

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Ontario Racing Commission has approved a directive ordering that all horses selected to provide a blood sample as defined by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency also will be tested for cobalt. Once the CPMA has completed the official testing, the ORC will subject the samples to enhanced testing for the presence of cobalt beginning Aug. 15.

Any sample in which cobalt is detected at a level of 50 nanograms per milliliter or more will be deemed to be in violation of the rules of racing.

Cobalt is a naturally occurring chemical element present in all horses at low levels. It also can be found in several feedstuffs and supplements such as vitamin B12. Horse racing regulators around the world have been investigating allegations that large amounts of cobalt have been administered to racehorses in the belief it enhances performance by inducing the production of red blood cells.