Management of a Monticello, N.Y., harness track revealed on Tuesday (Jan. 3) that its horseman’s association has filed a lawsuit to immediately terminate drug testing for illegal “milkshaking,” the use of sodium bicarbonate solutions to enhance racehorse performance. According to the Times Herald-Record online (www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/05/news-jghorseside-01-05.html), this is the latest development in an 18-month contract dispute between Monticello Raceway management and the Monticello Horseman’s Association.

In milkshaking, a baking soda solution is administered into the horse’s stomach through a nasogastric tube. The presence of excess carbon dioxide in the horse’s system is supposed to neutralize lactic acid, which is produced by intense exercise and is considered an important factor in causing fatigue.

The lawsuit was filed last month in the Supreme Court of the State of New York County of Sullivan. In a track press release, Cliff Ehrlich, vice president of operations at Monticello Raceway and Mighty M Gaming, cited the recent developments as an “appalling and shameful action that could seriously undermine the credibility of racing at Monticello Raceway. No one person or organization should want to stop testing for performance-enhancing substances.”

The horsemen say that the pre-race drug testing process by staff has been unfair and inaccurate, and the organization has called for state officials to take over the testing. (www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/05/news-jgmilkshake-01-05