NYRA Photo

Barn 15 quarantine extended to February 26 due to febrile horse

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have extended the quarantine of Barn 15 at Belmont Park by two days due to a horse who developed a fever in that barn.

Willful Desire, a 4-year-old filly trained by Gustavo Rodriguez stabled in Barn 15, developed a fever on Monday. Nasal swabs and blood samples were immediately sent to Cornell University for analysis, which were returned on Tuesday afternoon as negative for EHV.

In accordance with standard protocols, Barn 15 will now remain under quarantine through at least February 26, which is 21 days from Willful Desire’s first symptoms.

Barn 15 was first placed into quarantine on Saturday, February 3 at 3 p.m. when an unraced filly [Cure Curls] trained by Danny Gargan presented acute neurological symptoms and was subsequently euthanized. Cornell University returned a positive test result for EHV on Sunday afternoon. The quarantine procedures are overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC.

The 34 horses stabled in Barn 15, which is also home to stalls for Jim Ryerson along with Gargan and Rodriguez, are monitored throughout the day for fever and other signs of illness.

During the quarantine period, horses stabled in Barn 15 will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population.

Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 15 will continue to train in isolation from the general horse population throughout the quarantine.