Oklahoma adopts cobalt threshold

The Oklahoma Racing Commission on Thursday unanimously voted to adopt a cobalt threshold level, according to Tino Rieger, the executive director for the panel. The policy goes into effect June 4, and falls in line with recommendations of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

The threshold level in Oklahoma will be 50 nanograms per milliliter in plasma or serum, Rieger said Thursday.

“That's the recommended threshold level from RCI," he said. "We're following along on those lines.”

Rieger said penalties for an overage would fall under the “B” category of the RCI. The minimums are a 15-day suspension and a $500 fine.

Cobalt is a naturally occurring element that can be found in horses in the form of vitamin B-12, according to an explanation of cobalt listed in the agenda of the Oklahoma Racing Commission. Given in excessive amounts, the agenda reads, “it may be used to cause an improved endurance by spurring the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.”

The agenda further cited an RCI document that expresses concerns that “excessive administration of cobalt salts” could be toxic, leading to cardiovascular, nerve and thyroid issues in horses, as well as thickening of the blood.

Earlier this week, Maryland adopted threshold levels for cobalt, according to a Daily Racing Form report from Matt Hegarty.