ehv-1 | Horse Racing Free Tips

McPeek Frustrated By ‘Nonsensical’ Denial Of Entries At Saratoga, Seeks Hearing

Though the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission officially released Saratoga's Barn 86 from quarantine on Aug. 1, trainer Ken McPeek told bloodhorse.com he was frustrated by his inability to enter horses to race on that date. McPeek and his lawyer, Andrew Mollica, filed a request for a hearing with the NYSGC as to why he was unable to enter horses until Sunday, essentially preventing those horses from racing until Aug. 6.

The quarantine began on July 11, when a filly trained by Jorge Abreu, with whom McPeek shares Barn 86, tested positive for equine herpesvirus. The filly was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and is currently recovering. No other horses in the barn showed symptoms during the 21-day quarantine.

Multiple press releases and news reports indicated that the quarantine would be released on Aug. 1, provided there were no additional cases of EHV-1, so McPeek and his owners made plans to be able to race their horses from that date. He attempted to enter one horse for Aug. 1, three for Aug. 4, and three for Aug. 5, but since entries for those cards were taken before Aug. 1, NYSGC steward Braulio Baeza Jr. denied the entries.

Essentially, the quarantine was unnecessarily and inexplicably extended by another five days, McPeek argued.

“I am doing this so that the next time this happens, trainers and owners will not have to go through another situation like this where there are an extra three to five days when their horses cannot run because there is no clarity in New York. I don't want to see anyone else go through this,” McPeek told bloodhorse.com. “Officials need to address some standard operating procedures and protocols for everyone that make sense. To keep horses who have cleared quarantine from not running is nonsensical.

“What's the logic here?” he added. “It's been easier for (trainers) Marcus Vitali and Bob Baffert to run at Saratoga than me.”

Kentucky Issues Restrictions On Horses Shipping From Saratoga In Light Of EHV-1

On July 28, Kentucky state animal health officials issued guidance on the movement of racehorses from Saratoga, where a horse fell ill and tested positive for EHV earlier this month. The following bulletin was published via the Equine Disease Communication Center:

“Due to Kentucky's inability to adequately isolate new arrivals on the grounds of Kentucky tracks and training facilities and out of an abundance of caution, additional requirements will be placed on horses from Saratoga Race Course requesting entry to Kentucky tracks and associated training centers after July 31.

Horses which have recently (since July 31) been on the grounds at Saratoga can qualify for approval to enter a Kentucky track or sanctioned training center, if they have documentation demonstrating they were off the grounds prior to July 31 or have been tested by PCR after July 31 and reported negative for EHV-1 on both nasal swab and whole blood – EDTA samples.

A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for the horse(s) from the point where the sample was collected needs to be issued for movement to the Kentucky racing or training facility and must document the EHV-1 testing and current health assessment in addition to meeting the normal entry requirements that includes EHV-1 vaccination and EIA test certificate.

The post Kentucky Issues Restrictions On Horses Shipping From Saratoga In Light Of EHV-1 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Silver Lining’: Due To EHV Disruption At Saratoga, Swiss Skydiver Will Aim For Whitney

Trainer Kenny McPeek told the Thoroughbred Daily News on Wednesday that he plans to start star filly Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 7 at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Daredevil filly had been targeting this Sunday's G3 Shuvee at the Spa, but entries from Barn 86, where McPeek's horses are stabled, are currently not being accepted due to an EHV-1 quarantine.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) placed Barn 86 under a precautionary quarantine on Thursday, July 15 due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in that barn.

The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Sunday, July 11, after developing a fever. She was then tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on Thursday, July 15. The filly is currently recovering.

Subsequently, the New York State Veterinarian and New York State Equine Medical Director implemented a 21-day quarantine of Barn 86 retroactive to Sunday, July 11. Should there be no additional cases in Barn 86, the quarantine will be lifted on Aug. 1.

The 46 horses stabled in Barn 86, which is home to stalls for Abreu and trainer Kenny McPeek, will continue to be monitored daily for fever and other signs of illness. As of Tuesday, July 20, no horses in Barn 86 have developed a fever or displayed any symptoms of the illness.

Horses from Barn 86 have been allowed to train, with separate training hours from the general population.

McPeek believes the nine furlongs of the Whitney would be a good fit for Swiss Skydiver, and noted that she has been training well. The filly has not raced since finishing third in the G1 Apple Blossom on April 17.

“There might be a silver lining to this after all,” McPeek told the TDN.

The Whitney is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic this November at Del Mar.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post ‘Silver Lining’: Due To EHV Disruption At Saratoga, Swiss Skydiver Will Aim For Whitney appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Swiss Skydiver to Target Whitney

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) is headed for the GI Whitney S., trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday.

McPeek said that the EHV-1 quarantine that has affected his barn at Saratoga prompted him to reschedule his plans for Peter Callaghan's 4-year-old filly, the winner of the 2020 Preakness against colts. She was originally scheduled to run in the GIII $200,000 Shuvee this Sunday, but the quarantine in his barn has prevented him from entering any horses at Saratoga.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) have placed Barn 86 at Saratoga Race Course under a precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 in that barn.

The unnamed, unraced filly, who is trained by Jorge Abreu, was sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Sunday, July 11 after developing a fever. She was subsequently tested for a number of potential ailments, and a positive test for EHV-1 was returned on Thursday afternoon. The filly began treatment immediately, and is improving under the care of Dr. Luis Castro, DVM.

The New York Racing Association has announced that during the length of the 21-day quarantine, retroactive to July 11, no horses can train with the generation population or enter races. The quarantine is scheduled to run through August 1, should no additional horses test positive, which is standard protocol in New York.

“There might be a silver lining to this after all,” said McPeek, indicating that the $1 million Whitney at nine furlongs is a good fit for her, and that she is training very well. She won the 2020 Alabama at Saratoga.

This story will be updated.

The post Swiss Skydiver to Target Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post