O'Neill barn draws detention for positive

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park's leading trainer, Doug O'Neill, had a starter test in excess of the permitted level of bicarbonates, or total carbon dioxide, at Hollywood last month, an infraction likely to result in a penalty from the California Horse Racing Board.
As a result of the test findings, O'Neill's runners will be confined to a prerace detention barn for 24 hours during a 30-day period from Wednesday through July 13. For a 15-day period beginning on July 14, O'Neill's stable will be subject to surveillance from the racing board.

A hearing with the racing board on the test findings will be conducted at a later date. O'Neill could face a fine or suspension.

The excess level of total carbon dioxide was found in a May 27 prerace blood test taken from Wisdom Cat, who finished last of eight at 48-1 in an allowance race that day. Wisdom Cat tested in excess of 37 millimoles per liter of blood, the permitted level. No specific test results were released.

O'Neill said he was informed of the test results on Saturday morning.

"I'm not happy with this at all," O'Neill said. Wisdom Cat "ran up the track. It's obvious to me that it can happen to any horse."

A high level of bicarbonates or carbon dioxide is attributed to the presence of alkalyzing agents, sometimes referred to as milkshakes, which are believed to give horses more stamina. Testing for excessive levels of carbon dioxide has been conducted at Southern California tracks since December 2004. The testing was administered by a consortium of racetracks and horsemen's organizations until October 2005, when the state racing board took over.

O'Neill described the test findings as "an embarrassment. The layperson thinks that Doug O'Neill is sticking a tube down their nose," he said, referring to one technique used to administer alkalyzing agents. "This was geared to stopping milkshaking horses, and none of our horses are milkshaked."

Although O'Neill expressed concern about how some horses would handle the change of scenery to a detention barn in the 24 hours before racing, he said the detention barn would not affect the number of starters from his stable, which has more than 100 horses.