Belmont barn under quarantine

A barn at Belmont Park has been placed under a precautionary quarantine because of a suspected case of equine herpesvirus Type 1.

New York Racing Association officials say a 4-year-old colt trained by Chris Englehart exhibited fever and neurological symptoms associated with EHV-1 on Saturday and is being treated by a private veterinarian. The colt named Freudnme last raced at Finger Lakes in upstate New York in June 2019.

EHV-1 can cause upper respiratory infection in young horses. If a number of horses are housed together, they can become sick and then recover uneventfully. However, equine herpesvirus-1 can also cause a severe neurological disease that affects a horse's brain and spinal cord, and may result in paralysis and death.

NYRA says all 37 horses stabled in Barn 37 will be monitored daily for fever and other signs of illness. They won't be allowed to enter races or train among the general horse population. The length of the quarantine will depend on the results of tests.

Belmont's current meet ends July 12. It is racing without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes at the track a week ago.

TRACK LOSES PARTNERS OVER RACIST ROPE STUNT

A North Carolina racetrack has lost some partnerships after its owner advertised “Bubba Rope” for sale online days after NASCAR said a noose had been found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace, the top series' only Black driver.

A concrete company and a driver series ended their partnerships Friday with the halfmile, dirt track 311 Speedway in Stokes County, the WinstonSalem Journal reported.

The racetrack owner's “Bubba Rope” post on Facebook Marketplace earlier this week sparked a backlash on social media and a condemnation from a spokesman for Gov. Roy Cooper.

“Buy your Bubba Rope today for only $9.99 each, they come with a lifetime warranty and work great,“the post said.