Trainer Mike Mitchell Suspended

Mike Mitchell, one of the leading Southern California trainers, has begun serving a 15-day suspension resulting from one of his horses testing positive for an excessive level of total carbon dioxide.

Presence of an excessive level of total carbon dioxide is known as “milkshaking” and involves treating a horse with a mixture of bicarbonate and/or other alkaline substances that is fed to a horse shortly before it competes.

The mixture produces higher levels of carbon dioxide, which delays the buildup of lactic acid in a horse’s muscles and is believed to increase stamina.