Use Of Vitamin May Force Withdrawal

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 4

Use Of Vitamin May Force Withdrawal

Does dosing a horse with vitamin 8.l come within the scope of a corrupt practice under the Rules of Racing? Unless the New Zealand Racing Conference provides some assurance that it does not the Riccarton galloper McCool will not run in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton tomorrow. The New Zealand Racing Conference would not comment yesterday on the position regarding the use of vitamin 8.1.

Conference comment was invited after a statement made at Riccarton by Mr J. F. Tutton, part-owner and trainer of McCool. "Owing to the recent wet weather,” said Mr Tutton, “no galloping has been possible at Riccarton and as a result McCool, along with some other horses, has been subject to an attack of azutoria to which some horses are prone, especially during the cold months.” Mr Tutton said: "Fortunately veterinary surgeons, while they have not found a complete cure, can immediately relieve a horse of all pain (and have the animal fit to race) by a daily dosage of the vitamin Bl.” Mr Tutton said last evening that the conference’s refusal to comment was disappointing.

"Unless I get late advice from the conference, and I will have to have it in writing, I will scratch McCool for Ashburton,” he said.

"McCool missed some galloping earlier in the week, but he would have had a second-to-none chance in the Maronan Handicap,” Mr Tutton said. McCool ran half a mile on the No. 7 grass at Riccarton yesterday. A long strider and deceptive mover, he recorded 41 l-ssec for the last three furlongs on a rainsoaked track. Mr Tutton said that vitamin Bl had to be administered to McCool before the horse galloped to free him of muscular restriction. , _ The Riccarton jockey, A. J. Stokes, will ride McCool if he starts. This was a successful com-

bination in the Templeton Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting in April. Vitamin Bl is in fairly general use but is seldom given within a few days of a horse racing. The corrupt practices rule provides that it is an offence to administer for the purpose of affecting the speed, stamina, courage or conduct of any horse any drug, stimulant or depressant.