Hushion undergoes treatment for leukemia

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Mike Hushion remains in a south Florida hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for a form of leukemia.

Barry Schwartz, one of Hushion’s owners and a longtime friend, said that Hushion was up and walking about this week after undergoing a period of chemotherapy treatment.

“He’s gone through that first round of treatment, and they’re encouraged,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said that while Hushion, 66, focuses on his treatment, he has moved some of his horses to other trainers, “but only until Mike gets better.”

“I support Mike 1,000 percent,” Schwartz said.

Captain Serious and Princess Violet, New York-bred stakes-winning sprinters, will go to Linda Rice. Jacaranda, last year’s Grade 3 Tempted winner, will go to Todd Pletcher, who trains Jacaranda’s half-brother Constitution. Japan, a highly regarded 3-year-old maiden who finished sixth at Gulfstream in his debut, will go to Bill Mott, who trains Japan’s full-brother Al Khali.

Schwartz said that the Hushion-trained horses based at Palm Meadows in Florida with assistant Tiffany Webb will in the next two weeks be shipped up to Belmont Park. Hushion’s New York-based assistant is Lorina Andersen.