Precautionary Quarantine of Belmont Park Barn Lifted

A precautionary quarantine placed on a Belmont Park barn due to a suspected case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 has been removed by officials at the New York Racing Association and New York State Gaming Commission after test results for a horse came back negative June 28.

Freudnme, a 4-year-old colt trained by Chris Englehart, exhibited fever and neurological symptoms Saturday morning, which activated a precautionary quarantine of all 37 horses stabled in Barn 37 at Belmont. In addition, heightened biosecurity measures were immediately implemented throughout the barn, and all horses were monitored for fever and other symptoms.

All horses in Barn 37 were found to be afebrile and asymptomatic. As a result, they can enter races and train among the general population.

Following the negative polymerase chain reaction tests performed at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., the precautionary quarantine was lifted immediately. As a result, horses stabled in Barn 37 can enter races and train among the general population.

Freudnme is currently under the care of a private veterinarian and is being closely observed.

He last raced June 24, 2019, at Finger Lakes in the Ontario County Stakes, in which he ended second. The chestnut has been working regularly at Belmont Park since late February and won his first three races prior to the Ontario County Stakes last summer.

EHV-1 manifests itself in four diseases, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service—a neurological form, respiratory disease, abortion, and neonatal death. No effective vaccine is available to prevent the neurological pathology, known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy. The disease can be mortal.

Belmont’s current meet ends July 12. It is racing without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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