Quarantine lifted on Saratoga Race Course barn after positive strangles case

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A quarantine on Barn 85 at Saratoga Race Course has now been lifted, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced on Friday. The barn was first placed under quarantine at the end of May due to a positive case of strangles.

Barn 85 contains horses trained by Jeremiah Englehart and Jorge Abreu. On May 28, Englehart's 2-year-old Tranquil Sea was taken to the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital after showing respiratory symptoms. A positive test for strangles reportedly came back on May 30.

Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that affects a horse's respiratory system, with symptoms similar to strep throat in humans. According to health experts, horses typically undergo a full recovery when the illness is diagnosed and treated properly.

Tranquil Sea immediately began receiving treatment at a private farm. The colt continues to recover at the location as of Friday, NYRA said.

After Tranquil Sea's positive test, three other horses in the barn reportedly developed a fever and were removed from the property for evaluation. According to NYRA, no additional positive cases of strangles were identified.

Asymptomatic horses in Barn 85 were not permitted to race or train with the other horses at Saratoga Race Course during the quarantine period. Now that the quarantine has been lifted, the horses can now return to racing and training with the general horse population.