Terraciano appealing fine, ban

Trainer Neil Terraciano has appealed a 60-day suspension and a $1,000 fine handed him by the New York stewards after a horse who ran under his name had a higher than acceptable level of carbon dioxide in his blood, something usually associated with the administering of milkshakes. A milkshake is a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, sugar, and electrolytes, a combination thought to relieve fatigue.

The horse, Martha's Mandate, finished last in the first race on May 16 at Belmont Park.

Martha's Mandate had a carbon dioxide level of 41 millimoles per liter. A positive test is when the level is 37 millimoles or more per liter.

Terraciano said while the 6-year-old mare raced under his name, he had no contact with the horse until race day, when he put the saddle on. Terraciano said he was doing a friend a favor by allowing him to be the trainer of record. Diane Jeannont, who had trained Martha's Mandate for her previous five starts, was serving a suspension from New Jersey at the time the horse ran, according to Terraciano. Jeff Siskin and Jamie Friedkin are the listed owners of Martha's Mandate.

Terraciano said: "Are they my horses? No. Did they run in my name? Yes. Did I treat them? No. Did I enter them? No. I did somebody a favor and here I am."