{MONTICELLO, N.Y. – April 2, 2012} Monticello Raceway announced today that on April 4, 2012, it will begin taking entries for horses that are not currently housed at Monticello Raceway and will permit horses to ship-in to its facility beginning on April 9, 2012. Since March 26, 2012 no horses from outside the property have been allowed to ship-in to Monticello in order to limit exposure to an occurrence of streptococcus equi, commonly known as strangles, at Saratoga Harness Raceway.
While ship-ins will once again be
permitted beginning next week, management continues to take precautionary
measures to protect the health and safety of its horse colony.
Precautionary measures, which will remain in effect until further notice,
include requiring a health certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian for
all horses that will be transported onto Monticello Raceway grounds and proof of
a negative PCR test for certain horses.
Health certificates must state
whether or not the horse has been stabled at a barn with a confirmed or suspect
case of strangles or raced or resided at Saratoga Raceway, and confirm that the
horse does not exhibit any physical signs of the disease and has not been
feverish in the previous three weeks. Horses that have been stabled at a
barn with a confirmed or suspect case of strangles or raced or resided at
Saratoga Raceway from March 16, 2012, through March 24, 2012, are required to
have proof of a negative PCR test. The PCR test is the most reliable medical
indicator of strangles infection.
Health certificates and PCR
laboratory results must be faxed to the Monticello Raceway racing office at
845-794-6218 prior to the horse’s arrival at Monticello Raceway. While there
have been no reported cases of strangles at Monticello, management continues to
monitor the situation and may once again reinstitute more restrictive measures
should events warrant.
