Precautionary quarantine lifted at Belmont Park

ELMONT, N.Y. – A precautionary quarantine placed on Barn 22 at Belmont Park on Friday morning was lifted Saturday afternoon after test results on a horse in that barn were negative for EHV-1, equineherpes virus, according to the chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association.

Horses residing in that barn were permitted to train with the general population as well as race beginning Sunday. Trainers with horses in that barn include Pat Kelly, George Weaver, Tom Albertrani, and Christophe Clement.

On Friday, Dr. Anthony Verderosa, NYRA’s chief examining veterinarian, placed a precautionary quarantine on Barn 22 after an unraced 2-year-old trained by Kelly “experienced neurological symptoms” associated with EHV-1, which is contagious. Instead, the horse is being treated for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, which is not contagious.

Verderosa said Saturday afternoon that test results from the state laboratory at Cornell University on the unraced 2-year-old “were negative for EHV-1, and the horse has improved dramatically today. The private vet has been treating the horse for EPM, and the horse has dramatically improved. It’s not herpes, so that was the only reason to put the precautionary quarantine in place because the other neurologic problems aren’t contagious.”

For two mornings, horses in Barn 22 only were permitted to train on the Belmont training track for a one-hour window, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. That restriction was to be lifted for Sunday morning training.

Also, trainer George Weaver will be permitted to run his entry of Soul House and Saltine Warrior in Belmont’s ninth race.