Yes Virginia, Even Horses Bi-Carbonate Load to Win

Last Updated on April 14, 2020 by Jimson Lee

For those who think humans are the only ones that will win at any cost (including Lance Armstrong), then I got news for you.

Even horses will bi-carbonate to win.

I wrote about baking soda and bicarbonate loading in several past articles.

Today, it’s all about Nitric Oxide products including L-Citrulline Malate and L-Arginine as potential vasodilators.  ATP Extreme which contains Adenosine Triphosphate Disodium (Oral ATP) recently made headlines by signing Mike Rodgers, Trell Kimmons, Greg Nixon and Ivory Williams as sponsored athletes.

I still prefer SNAC’s PED as an all-in-one performance enhancer pre-race or pre-workout drink because it satisfies my 4 pre-requisites in an “energy” drink.

But back to baking soda…

This article appeared in the January 10, 2004, issue of THOROUGHBRED TIMES:

THE RECIPE for a milkshake includes sodium bicarbonate at 0.5 to 1 gram per kilogram of body weight (generally a 1,100-pound Thoroughbred would receive 500 grams or one box of baking soda) mixed with two liters of water. Commonly, electrolytes and powdered sugar are added to aid in the absorption of the concoction. Interestingly, studies have shown that adding smaller amounts of sodium bicarbonate to the ration on a daily basis is not effective in counteracting the effects of lactic acid production during racing.

In general, milkshakes are administered four to six hours prior to racing so the bicarbonate is fully absorbed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide concentrations are at peak level for maximum effectiveness in buffering acid. This time frame allows for administration of the milkshake to take place before the traditional four hour to post-time rule which forbids the administration of any type of drug or preparation to the horse during this time period in most racing jurisdictions. By eight hours after administration, carbon dioxide concentrations have basically returned to normal, making detection of high levels of bicarbonate much harder to determine in typical post-race testing conditions.

>> READ the full article here (PDF file, 50Kb)