Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Pimlico Says Preakness Will Run As Scheduled
Posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2006
BALTIMORE (AP) — The home of the Preakness Stakes is eerily quiet this week, the result of a quarantine that has raised questions whether troubled Pimlico Race Course can regroup in time to host the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
An outbreak of equine herpesvirus at the 136-year-old track forced three horses to be euthanized and led several states to ban the shipment of horses into or from Maryland. Although a horse was linked to the virus Tuesday at nearby Laurel Park, there have been no new cases at Pimlico since Jan. 19 and the track intends to lift the self-imposed quarantine next Wednesday.
But can Pimlico ultimately replace the cautionary yellow tape currently surrounding several barns with the bright yellow Black-eyed Susans that symbolize the Preakness?
"I have no concern about that whatsoever," Lou Raffetto, chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, said Tuesday. "Given the nature of this virus, I don’t think this will be an issue by the time we start the spring meet in April."
The virus, known as EHV-1, often produces respiratory problems and fever, and it can cause pregnant mares to abort their fetuses. The most severe version attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis.
Fortunately for Pimlico, equine herpesvirus usually runs its course in a month to six weeks, according to Dr. George Allen of The University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center.
"It would be unlikely that what’s going on now at Pimlico would extend into the spring racing season," said Allen, who has made a career out of researching the disease.
The outbreak of the virus forced Laurel to cancel its Sunday cards for two straight weekends, and the track will also move back a pair of Grade 2 sprints originally scheduled for this month — the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Feb. 18) and $300,000 General George Breeders’ Cup Handicap (Feb. 20).
The outbreak of equine herpesvirus is merely the most recent problem confronting the Maryland racing industry.
Magna Entertainment Corp., which owns and operates Pimlico and Laurel Park, has been frustrated in its bid to have slot machines installed at both financially troubled tracks.
Although Magna, run by Frank Stronach, makes enough money on Preakness Day to sustain operations in Maryland for the entire year, the corporation contends that Pimlico and Laurel can’t compete with tracks in surrounding states that offer slots.
"Pimlico Says Preakness Will Run As Scheduled" was posted on Wednesday, February 1st, 2006 at 9:42 am and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Pimlico Track, Preakness Stakes, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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