TICKED for return - Supreme Soul set for arrival in island next week
Published:Thursday | February 6, 2020 | 12:18 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) senior veterinarian officer Sophia Ramlal says that the Jamaica Veterinary Service Division (JVSD) is expecting last year’s Triple Crown winner SUPREME SOUL back in the island by next week.
The JVSD has been lobbying for the return of the thoroughbred, who has been under a 44-day quarantine in the United States for tick fever since late last year. This was after he travelled to compete in the Caribbean Classic at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
The (US) Veterinary Services Division insisted SUPREME SOUL be treated in the United States, but the disease is not commonplace there, meaning the drugs needed for his treatment are not readily available, and will not be before March.
SUPREME SOUL’s trainer, Anthony Nunes, said the quarantine of the animal, which is staying in a 100 square foot stall for the period, is ‘inhumane’. He also criticised the JVSD for saying they cannot accept the horse back in the island, but said that if he is shipped back to Jamaica he shouldn’t even have to go through any quarantine as the majority of horses at Caymanas Park are already carrying the tick fever agent.
But Ramlal said they have written to their US vetenary counterpart requesting SUPREME SOUL’s release and return home from treatment. She agrees that tick fever is endemic to Jamaica and Supreme Soul would not present any unusual danger to his fellow thoroughbreds at Caymanas Park.
Tick fever endemic
“Indeed, tick fever is endemic in Jamaica and many horses have been exposed and many have gotten sick,” she said. “So he (Nunes) is correct in saying we have a wide exposure and many horses that haven’t gotten sick from the tick fever agent. But once it is treated properly most horses will not die. They will get sick, but this is not what we call a high mortality disease, so once they get proper treatment, 99 per cent of the horses will recover.
Ramlal also agree with Nunes that the long-term detention and lack of activity is not beneficial to the horse.
“This is a racehorse and we do not want him to be confined to a stall, that is not how racehorses are handled,” she said. “We expect them to be able to come out and train and exercise. So keeping a horse confined to a stall over that prolonged period is not in his best interest.”
Ramlal said the Veterinary Service Division is always trying to reduce the possibility and risk of a serious outbreak of tick fever at Caymanas Park.
“Tick fever is common here, like how mosquitoes are common, so unless we completely get rid of every tick, you will never completely eliminate the problem,” Ramlal said. “We are dealing with a parasite and it is really the transfer of blood between horses that allows the tick fever to spread.
“Caymanas Park probably have the best tick control regimen on the island. Horses are treated routinely for parasites, both internal and external. So you rarely see many horses with active tick infestation. But we get grass and other supplies from outside every day, so there is always the potential to be introducing ticks to the racetrack.”