February 1, 2018
Dalby trainer Gilbert Baker has been barred from racing for 12 months after a gelding he trained returned a positive urine test at Nanango Races in September.
On Monday, racing stewards released the results of a hearing after a pre-race urine sample taken from Beautiful Love at Nanango’s Heritage meeting on September 16 showed the presence of cobalt above the allowable threshold.
A second test on the sample also came back positive.
Baker pleaded guilty to a charge of bringing a horse to race meeting with a prohibited substance.
Cobalt lifts red blood cell production, increasing endurance in both human and equine athletes but can also have serious health side-effects.
It can occur at very low levels in horses as it is a naturally occurring trace element present in feed, however a legal limit of 100 micrograms per litre has been set by racing officials.
Higher levels than normal can also occur if a horse is injected with particular vitamin products shortly before a race meeting.
Beautiful Love came third by a nose in Race 2 at Nanango on September 16, the Evolution Hair Studio Class B Handicap (1000m).
This placing has now be voided and Karma Force, trained by Graham Wilson and ridden by Kelly Gates, has been elevated into third spot.
