Cobalt is naturally found in the environment, in plants and in the soil. It is present in animals and is a critically required trace element (metal). It is a structural component of Vitamin B12 (which also called Cobalamin), with 4.3 % of the weight of the molecule consisting of Cobalt.
The NHA recognises the threat which Class 1, Forbidden Substances pose to the integrity of racing and the welfare of the horse. For this reason sophisticated protein and peptide screening methods have been in place at the NHA for close to 20 years. During the year 2000 the NHA Laboratory established collaboration with some other major racing jurisdictions in conducting the initial research and then developing the basis of approaches and methodologies to screen for commercial Growth Hormones (GH’s), their GH releasing precursors, their messenger growth factors and synthetic analogues of such growth factors. The effective screening of a range of different Erythropoietins (EPO’s) which are commercially available was also devised during that time. The range of peptide and protein forbidden substances and substances of concern to racing has since increased and the research and development of screening and confirmation methods for these has not stood still. The NHA has the expertise, experience, set-up and instrumentation required for the screening of such substances. During the racing year 2020/2021 there was screening of such substances employing internationally approved and adopted methodologies. The specimens screened included those from post-race, pre-race and from out of competition collections (unannounced collection of specimens at stable yards). Similar screening is now again in place during the 2021/2022 season.
During November 2019 the NHA provided a notice that traces of the substance Zilpaterol was noted in some racehorse specimens, originating from all over the country. In South Africa this substance is a component of some commercial feed rations supplied to cattle destined for meat production. Stakeholders were urged to take precautionary steps to monitor that the feed sourced for horses would not have Zilpaterol present.
Positive findings of Zilpaterol in racehorses competing in France during October 2020 has highlighted the possibility of contamination of horse feed with this substance, which is prohibited (forbidden) in racing. This feed contamination within Europe was recently shown to originate from contaminated molasses which was sourced from South Africa. It must be noted that significant volumes of molasses are locally fortified with Zilpaterol, for use in cattle feedlots.
The above considered, there is some possibility that molasses (or feedstuff destined for cattle feedlots) could introduce some Zilpaterol into local horse feed.
The NHA therefore recommends that racehorses are only fed:
Please note the current NHA Rule:
Prohibited substances in horses Rule 73.4.2
Natural or herbal substances or remedies and/or drugs which have any of the following properties:
73.4.2.1 antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) are natural substances found in many Cannabis plant species, including cannabis (dagga) and hemp plants. Medicinal oils, ointment and creams which originate from these plants could contain elevated levels of these substances. Furthermore, oil preparations of pure CBD which have been of isolated from plants are now available.
CBD and CBDA are reported to have anti-inflammatory properties and these are prohibited substances in horseracing.
It is cautioned that the use of such preparations and the use of horse bedding which has hemp plant as a component (which horses may be able to ingest) could result in prohibited substance positive findings in horses.
Please note there will now be an official plasma specimen threshold for Cobalt, to complement the existing urine threshold.
This plasma threshold is an equivalent threshold to the urine threshold.
The NHA website current guidance for the use of (and withdrawal of) Cobalt products and Vitamin B12 in the horse therefore remains unchanged.
Cobalt ……. 0.1 microgram total cobalt per millilitre in urine (EXISTING) …… 0.025 microgram total cobalt (free and protein bound) per millilitre in plasma (NEW)
