Due To a Positive Case Of Strangles
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 28 at Belmont Park under a 14-day precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of strangles in that barn. NYRA, the NYSGC and the NYS Department of Agriculture remain in close contact regarding any further precautionary measures that may be required.
Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse’s respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection and horses recover fully.
Barn 28 contains horses trained by George Weaver, Todd Pletcher and Rudy Rodriguez.
The 2-year-old gelding [Mo Curls], who is trained by Weaver, was referred to Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center on Friday. He was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for strangles was returned on Saturday afternoon. The horse began treatment immediately at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center.
Following confirmation of a positive strangles test, NYRA and the NYSGC implemented standard infectious disease protocols including restricting access to the horses in the quarantined barn, establishing a 24-hour security watch, mandating regular temperature checks for the horses in that barn and enacting biosecurity measures for all individuals requiring access to Barn 28.
Overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA’s veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC, the Barn 28 quarantine is effective immediately.
During the initial quarantine period, these horses in Barn 28 will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population.
Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 28 will have isolated training hours on the Belmont Park dirt training track following the close of training for the general horse population at 10:30 a.m.
As of Saturday afternoon, no additional febrile horses have been identified.
NYRA will provide updates as appropriate.
