Karakatsanis pair accused of elevating the bicarb levels

Matt Rigby | Australian Racing | Tue 8 January, 2013

RACING Victoria has accused trainer Con Karakatsanis and his father Tony of conspiring to elevate the bicarb level of their galloper Howmuchdoyouloveme "to enhance its performance" on race day.

Dr Cliff Pannam, on behalf of stewards, conceded to Tony Karakatsanis at an Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board hearing today that "it was not your intention to administer a salt solution (drench) to the horse before the race."

He agreed with the pair, who yesterday said that doing so only three hours before the Yellowglen Stakes at Flemington on November 3 would have had an adverse effect on the galloper's health as tubing generally dehydrates a horse before it re-hydrates.

"However I suggest that you intended to put a goodly quantity of bicarb in a solution and you were going to administer it to him before the race," Dr Pannan said.

Dr Pannan said that Tony Karakatsanis, formerly a trainer for 25 years and now stable assistant for his son, was an expert on bicarb levels and was aware of the threshold of 36 mMols, and that Howmuchdoyouloveme had a resting level of about 33.

"You knew how much to give to the horse to keep it under the threshold," Dr Pannan suggested.

Tony Karakatsanis said he gave the galloper bicarb in a "bran mash" for dinner and also used it when tubing the horse.

"But I didn't use it and I don't think anyone can know how much to give to ensure a horse remains under the limit," he said.

Earlier he said that he had simply "made a mistake" when he picked up a white feed back containing tubing equipment instead of what he believed to be a back with hay in it.

He conceded there was not another bag in the feed shed that contained hay.

"I thought I did (put hay in another bag) but obviously I didn't," he said.

Con and Tony Karakatsanis have pleaded not guilty to five charges.

The hearing is continuing.

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