Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another's Win Not Tainted by 'Milkshaking' Rumors

I'll Have Another and trainer Doug O'Neill had to overcome plenty of obstacles to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. They're now facing even more adversity with the rise of "milkshaking" allegations.

No, the term "milkshaking" is not a joke but is used to represent a combination of bicarbonate soda, sugar and electrolytes that is given to a horse to increase performance.

The mixture is given to the horse via a tube through the nostrils that leads directly to the stomach. If all goes well, the fatigue factor of horse racing is eliminated and the performance of the horse is increased. This can be highly dangerous to horses though.

If the mixture is administered incorrectly, it can prove fatal for the thoroughbred.

The practice has been an issue since 2004, and it's no surprise that allegations against O'Neill have surfaced after his horse became the improbable winner at Churchill Downs and Pimlico.

Could it be jealousy? Is Bob Baffert writing anonymous letters to the California Horse Racing Board? My guess is that he's definitely not doing that, but either way, I'll Have Another's legacy should not be tainted by these recent allegations.

O'Neill had this to say about the accusations, as per SI.com:

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"I swear on my kids' eyes I never milkshaked a horse," O'Neill said nine days before the Preakness. "We had some people in charge of California racing I think didn't like a few of us that were doing well. Anyway, it's all being heard by the courts and I'm very confident everything will be fine."

"

He swore on his children's eyes, ladies and gentlemen. However, back in August of 2010, one of his horses, Argenta, tested positive for higher-than-normal levels of TCO2 (the substance in question) at a race in Del Mar, California. That horse finished eighth in the race, though, so does this "milkshake" really help the horses?

If these allegations prove to be true, O'Neill could be suspended for a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of 180 days. He would also be facing a minimum fine of $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000.

Whatever the outcome may be, I'll Have Another won both races outright. It's hard for me to imagine a "milkshake" helping the horse track down Bodemeister at the last second two times in a row.

That's just a testament to jockey Mario Gutierrez and how great of a horse he is riding.