🚀 go-pugleaf

Here's the story as best I know via a source I won't name who's last name
starts with 'H' and ends in "D".  In August, a horse that was impounded in
a drug bust from a PA farm by the FBI was subsequently stalled at Phila
Park.  Whether or not he had a current coggins...I don't know, and when
the FBI relocated these horses to new owners I don't know.  But the agents
wouldn't have known what a 'coggins' was, anyway, so you can't blame them.
  Anyway, the horse has tested positive for EIA and everything at Phila
Park is under quarantine.  A horse who was nominated to the breeder's cup
was exposed and so will not be shipping up to Woodbine, I heard.  I also
heard the owner is ballistic (and I don't blame him).  They knew about the
EIA contamination for almost a month, yet horses shipped in and out to
race?  Where are these horses today?  I found this all out yesterday,
9/24.  Today, 9/25, I find out that there is no federal statute on
EIA/coggins and that some tracks are very lax.  Two years ago, there was a
quarantine at Belmont for EIA, and since several horses were positive at a
private stable where the track farrier worked, and  he might have spread
it.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

The blame is on the SPCA.  No police or any federal regulatory bureau
should be allowed to move a horse, transfer ownership etc. without SPCA
regulation. And the SPCA has to be educated re equine requirements.

Coggins testing requirements vary wildly:  The AHSA extended the validity
period to two years from one year.  However, breed shows and Devon require
six month testing. Come to your own conclusions.

I once picked up a mare from Phila Park and was met with a shoulder-shrug
when I asked for her coggins.  The attitude was basically, who gives a
shit. I was committed to pick her up but I was very nervous all the way
back to her destination and paid to have her blood drawn. Tracks have got
to be a lot less cavalier in response to this disease and they damned well
better start taking some responsibility.  I wouldn't dream of trailering
my school horses that students ride in local shows and hunter paces
without their coggins up to date and in my glove compartment.  Yet come to
think about it, the training track where I run my TB babies has NEVER once
asked me to produce a coggins!  I would never allow a horse on my property
if the owners couldn't produce a 12 or 6  month old coggins.  Why should
tracks be more lax than that?

I feel for all the owners whose horses may have been jeapordized and as a
racehorse owner, I wouldn't want my horses compromised. And if I had a
breeder's cup hopeful who was put out of the running by a track
quarantine, I would be beyond angry.  Check into Horse of Delaware Valley
newspaper, they'll be doing an article. So far, all of our local papers
have kept a tight lid on the story.

E-mail welcome
Morgana