Lady Libby considered strangles free by Cornell

Cornell University on Friday confirmed that LADY LIBBY (Sea Salute) did not

have the bacterial infection strangles, but instead was afflicted with another

bacterial infection that produces abscesses similar to the respiratory

disease.

"Lady Libby had abscessed and had been treated with antibiotics, which made

detection difficult," said Dr. Celeste Kunz, the New York Racing Association's

(NYRA) chief examining veterinarian. "She had actually gone downhill

considerably after she was sent to Cornell, but she was doing much better today.

It was determined that she had a condition that was serious to her, but it was

definitely not strangles."

Multiple tests on Lady Libby exposed many different types of bacteria, which

by working independently or together, could have caused strangles-like symptoms under

certain circumstances. Barn 60, the one in which Lady Libby had been housed at

Belmont Park, was quarantined, but starting Saturday the restrictions placed

upon it would be relaxed to a point. Training will be permitted during regular

hours for the horses stabled there.

"Every horse in Barn 60 was tested and all came back negative for strangles,"

Kunz said. "But I took multiple tests, and until I get those results back, we

will still have to be careful.

"We strongly urge horsemen to keep surveillance high for infectious diseases.

Communication and integrity will help to protect our equine population."