Belmont Park barn quarantine is extended to Feb. 26

The New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission extended the quarantine of Barn 15 at Belmont Park by two days because of a horse who developed a fever in that barn.

Willful Desire, a 4-year-old filly trained by Gustavo Rodriguez and stabled in Barn 15, developed a fever on Monday. Nasal swabs and blood samples were sent immediately to Cornell University for analysis, which were returned on Tuesday afternoon as negative for EHV.

In accordance with standard protocols, Barn 15 will remain under quarantine through at least Feb, 26, which is 21 days from Willful Desire’s first symptoms.

Barn 15 was first placed into quarantine on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST when an unraced filly trained by Danny Gargan presented acute neurological symptoms and subsequently was euthanized. Cornell University returned a positive test result for EHV on Sunday afternoon. The quarantine procedures are overseen by Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the director of NYRA's veterinary department, in consultation with the NYSGC.

The 34 horses stabled in Barn 15, which also is home to stalls for Jim Ryerson along with Gargan and Rodriguez, are monitored throughout the day for fever and other signs of illness. ?

During the 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 continue to train in isolation from the general horse population throughout the quarantine.