Leamington Raceway is going through a bit of a rough patch as about 50 horses located there are now in isolation. They came in contact with one of the horses who was later on diagnosed with strangles. The disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi and it is a highly contagious one. The quarantine is set to continue and horse people should be as flexible as possible.
Protecting the health of horses at all times is essential for people taking care of them. The horse people of Ontario have been taking care of the horses during the extensive lockdown period, as the animals needed daily care and light training. They put themselves at risk even though the horse racetracks had all safety protocols in place.
50 Horses Isolated
The first days of this month witnessed a particularly dangerous situation taking place at Leamington Raceway. A three-year-old Standardbred filly was on the premises of the popular racetrack between August 1 and August 6. It was, later on, discovered that the horse was infected with the highly contagious disease and all horses the filly has come in contact with are at risk.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario received information regarding the health situation last Wednesday and was quick to make a move and protect all horses that have been in its vicinity during that period of time. They amount to some 50 horses across three barns and they will have to be isolated for the time being. If any of them is, in fact, infected with strangles, transmitting to other horses should be prevented.
For the time being, the length of the quarantine period of the horses remains unknown, as the horse people will have to monitor everything happening. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario did not reveal anything additional but reminded that the people taking care of horses should seek a veterinarians’ advice in case they notice anything abnormal.
Next Steps
Strangles comes with fever and nasal discharge which could in some cases lead to euthanasia. The 50 horses are currently prohibited to leave Leamington Raceway and they go through complete tests until they are allowed to participate in races part of the rich schedule up for grabs. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario also made it clear that it is working closely with infectious disease expert Dr. Scott Weese at the University of Guelph.
It could be recalled that Leamington Raceway greenlighted its live racing on August 9. For the time being, racing commenced without spectators but this could change very soon, as August 23 is eyed as an important date. The racetrack will allow up to 100 individuals to make their way there and watch live, but they should reserve their spots ahead of the events.
Leamington Raceway could welcome up to 700 spectators at a time, meaning that the current restrictions significantly lower the capacity. However, individuals will still get the chance to wager online and watch the race live, as it is broadcasted.
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