Trainer Is Cited for Milkshakes

A horse trained by Adam Kitchingman exceeded the permitted level of sodium bicarbonate when he ran at Santa Anita on Feb. 16, according to an industry committee that has been monitoring the use of the so-called milkshakes at the track.

The horse, first-time starter Always The Best, ran fifth at 7-1 odds in the $80,000 maiden race.

For a 30-day period, Kitchingman’s horses will be subjected to a detention barn 24 hours before they run. Milkshakes are suspected of masking other drugs and may reduce fatigue in a horse. To be most effective, milkshakes must be given to horses on the day they run. The state Legislature is expected to approve a rule against milkshakes, which would enable the California Horse Racing Board to make the penalties more severe.