Belmont: Gargan filly is euthanized, barn on alert for herpesvirus

The New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission have placed barn 15 at Belmont Park under a precautionary quarantine until further notice due to a potential case of equine herpesvirus in that barn.

Cute Curls, an unraced 3-year-old filly trained by Danny Gargan, exhibited acute neurological symptoms Saturday and was subsequently euthanized. As of Saturday afternoon, no additional horses in barn 15 have presented symptoms.

Blood samples are en route to Cornell University for analysis with results expected within 48 hours.

Barn 15 was placed under quarantine at 3 p.m. EST with standard precautions and biosecurity measures in effect. The quarantine procedures are overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA’s veterinary department, in consultation with the state gaming commission..

There are 34 horses currently stabled in barn 15, which is home to stalls for Jim Ryerson, Gus Rodriguez and Gargan. All horses in barn 15 will be closely monitored for fever and other signs of illness.

During the initial 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 have isolated training hours at Belmont Park following the closure of training for the general horse population

Two horses stabled in barn 15, Ryan’s Cat and Society Man, shipped to Aqueduct for races on Saturday prior to the identification of Cute Curls as a potential EHV case. As such, both horses were permitted to run on Saturday afternoon.

Neither horse has presented symptoms, and Society Man will be transported to Belmont Park in isolation. Ryan’s Cat was transported to Belmont Park following race 1 and prior to the identification of the potential EHV case.

NYRA will provide updates as necessary in the coming days.