Suspected strangles case found at Belmont Park; Afleet Alex
stays at Pimlico
A suspected but unconfirmed case of strangles forced the New York Racing
Association (NYRA) to quarantine Barn 60 at Belmont Park on Friday. LADY LIBBY
(Sea Salute) was put into an isolation stall “after exhibiting signs suggestive
of possible strangles,” according to Dr. Celeste Kunz, NYRA’s chief examining
veterinarian.
“This is a suspected case of strangles, not a confirmed case,” Kunz said.
“But we are taking this very seriously, and are taking every precaution and
bio-security measure. We are testing every horse in the barn and horses that
have been through the barn. And we have isolated Lady Libby. The test samples
will be sent to two labs — one local and one at the University of Illinois —
that are accommodating us through the holiday weekend. We should have word early
next week.”
All trainers and veterinarians at NYRA racetracks are asked to report horses
with high fevers, neurological signs, or enlarged lymph nodes to Kunz. Horses
that have recently arrived from Delaware Park or Churchill Downs should have
temperature charts posted outside their stalls for two weeks. Delaware Park has
a confirmed case of strangles, while Churchill currently has three barns under
quarantine due to equine herpes virus.
Preakness S. (G1) hero AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) was scheduled to ship to
Belmont Park on Saturday, but plans were changed when Mike Lokow, a New York Racing Association (NYRA) racing
secretary, contacted trainer Tim Ritchey on Friday with information on the unconfirmed case of strangles.
“Mike Lakow called me right away about the suspected strangles case, which I
am very appreciative,” Ritchey said. “I can’t take a shot shipping to New York
right now with this horse and expose him to something. I talked to the people at
Pimlico, and we’ll stay here at least until Tuesday. By that time, NYRA will
hopefully know what they are dealing with and have control of the situation.”
The bay sophomore returned to his normal
routine of two trips to the track on Friday, making a first appearance at 6:30
a.m. (EDT) to jog two miles over Pimlico’s track before returning two hours
later for a 1 1/2-mile jog and a 1 1/2-mile gallop.
“Most horses would benefit from the same type of program but unfortunately
you can’t do it with them,” said Ritchey, who celebrated his 54th
birthday on Friday. “You have to have this kind of athlete. Maybe this kind of
training is brining out a little more in him, but it has worked and it is a team
effort.”
Afleet Alex was supposed to work at Belmont on Tuesday, but instead will work at
Old Hilltop, weather permitting.
In other Belmont news:
Calder Race Course will set up two “Alex’s Lemonade Stands”
on July 11, Belmont S. (G1) day, with all contributions going toward pediatric
cancer research at Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
“I hope we can get what we want accomplished on Belmont day and that is to have
a lemonade stand at every racetrack that runs that day,” Ritchey said.
The Thoroughbred Racing Association is also encouraging its member tracks to
operate Alex’s Lemonade Stands on June 11 and a number of tracks throughout the
country have already made a commitment.