Carlspur on the mend

In early November Monticello Raceway’s Horse of the Year, Carlspur, was stricken with an extremely bad case of colic and was rushed to New Bolton Center in greater Philadelphia for emergency surgery. The veterinarians there performed a two-plus hour surgery and though they felt the surgery was successful they had to wait to see if Carlspur could eat and pass on his own. To the joy of all concerned he could, and did, but the pacer, a lifetime winner of $882,361 with a lifetime record of 1:48, still wasn’t out of the woods.

On Nov. 7, Carlspur was doing well and taken off all medication. He returned to co-owner and trainer Tony Salerno’s Skyview Farm in New Jersey and it was reported that the pacer looked great and it was hard to tell that he went through life-threatening surgery.

Short-term plans were 30 days of stall rest and hand walking followed by 30 days of light turnout and exercise. Now, Salerno reports that Carlspur is doing great. The staples are out and he’s healing fine.

"He’s definitely looking for more to eat which is a very good sign," said Salerno. "He’s lost a lot of muscle tone but that will return once the pacer gets back on a training schedule.”

Carlspur’s first 30 days are up on Dec. 5 and come Tuesday he will be turned out in a small paddock and start walking on an exerciser for 20 to 30 minutes, twice a day.

On or about Jan. 5 Salerno said Carlspur will get turned out in a larger paddock and start some light jogging.

According to co-owner, Tom Trezza, “If everything goes according to schedule and he’s doing well we will resume his training schedule and Tony doesn’t think it will take too long to get Carlspur back in racing shape--that is if we don’t have any setbacks. Our target date (to get back racing) would be in late April or May 1.

“Our goal is to come back to Monticello Raceway and defend our crown,” Trezza concluded. (Monticello)

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