Times of India, July 24, 2013 Strangles scare at Pune course No Danger To Racing As Of Now Mumbai: Strangles, a highly contagious disease affecting horses, has been reported at Pune racecourse. It has already affected Mysore racecourse and racing has been stopped there for a month. According to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) chairman Khushroo Dhunjibhoy only two cases have emerged so far. “There is an established protocol laid down by the Veterinary Commission of India, which we shall follow,” he said. Dhunjibhoy, however, ruled out the possibility of racing programme being affected. “Racing will continue normally as of now. The stewards will review the situation on Thursday,” he added. The cases came to light when a delegation of vet commission paid a visit to Pune racecourse on Monday. On last Friday during the Pune races, when TOI spoke to RWITC chief vet Dr S K Kulkarni about strangles, he had denied it. “There is no case here.” Strangles (see box) is not a life threatening disease but is highly contagious and the affected horses need to be kept in isolation. RWITC is yet to take a decide on it though. “The affected ones might be kept at Mumbai. The important thing is to stop it from spreading,” said Vivek Jain, media and marketing chief of the RWITC. Meanwhile, RWITC-based jockey A Sandesh has been denied entry at Bangalore racecourse where he was to ride An Acquired Taste in the St. Leger which was postponed from Sunday to Wednesday. “Now A Imran Khan will ride An Acquired Taste,” said owner Nevill Devlaliwala. After strangles cases surfaced in Mysore, the Bangalore Turf Club had introduced safety measures which includes imposing a 48-hour cooling-off time on people and professionals coming from Mysore to Bangalore racecourse premises. According to information, Sandesh rode in Pune on Friday last and is yet to report at BTC which has 48-hour cooling period since Pune is also now been termed positive for strangles. WHAT IS STRANGLES? • Highly contagious disease caused by bacteria, affects lymph nodes • If not treated in time, nodes could burst, leading to crushing of windpipe, and death • Disease proves fatal in horses aged 1 to 3, and those with weak immunity • Spreads by direct contact, water, food or through clothing of people treating the sick horse
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 06:41:23 +0000
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