Another disease outbreak

Thoroughbred racing is dealing with an outbreak of strangles, a usually non-deadly but highly infectious disease, at two training centers and possibly a farm.



The first outbreak was discovered at the old Louisville Downs, which is now the Trackside training center for Churchill Downs. Horses trained by Dale Romans and William "Blackie" Huffman have been under quarantine since March 11, when the first case at that facility was confirmed. A total of 19 stabled at Trackside tested positive for possible infection.



According to a report by The Blood-Horse, the results of a second round of tests found that:

-- 28 horses had returned "negative" results in both of their strangles tests;

-- Six horses had tested "positive" for the disease on both occasions;

-- 12 horses that returned "positive" results for the infection on their first test had returned a "negative" result on the second tests.



Test results on three horses were still pending.



This week horses seven horses trained by Romans that are now stabled at the Palm Meadows training center near West Palm Beach, Fla., were diagnosed with strangles. The barn has been quarantined.



Also of note, Romans has Roses In May set to run in Saturday's Dubai World Cup in the Middle East. There were also reports that investigators are checking into whether or not some horses trained by Romans had been at Lexington area horse farms recently.



Strangles is an equine bacterial infection that causes fever, nasal discharge, and swelling in the throat. In severe cases, it leads to the formation of abscesses in the throat that limit a horse's breathing. It is not usually fatal.

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