GYPSY'S WARNING INJURED IN WASH RACK INCIDENT
Team Valor International and Green Lantern Stable's Gypsy's Warning, a Grade 1 winner at 2 and 3 in South Africa, injured three of her four ankles in an incident last week while being bathed in the United States and her racing future will remain in doubt for several months.
The Mogok filly, known for her irascible behavior, became spooked while being washed at the Classic Mile training center in Ocala, Florida and flipped over. She survived the first part of the incident, however, when she tried to stand, she caught her legs on a nearby railing and became ensnared.
Barry Irwin, owner of Team Valor, said "There are two serious insults to her limbs. One is what is referred to as an asphalt burn on a ligament, which is the result of the filly using the ligament to right herself. In the process, the soft tissue scrapes against the ground and becomes traumatized. The second serious part is that one of the ankles suffered a contusion that involves the joint capsule.
"Fortunately for the sake of the filly, there was a hyperbaric chamber at a rehabilitation center close to the track. After 4 hours of surgery, we moved the filly to the place where the chamber is located. I am happy to report that after only 4 or 5 treatments, the legs are looking a lot better.
"The immediate danger comes from infection. I have learned from years of experience with the oxygen rich environment provided by the hyperbaric chamber that it can work better than antibiotics when it comes to allowing soft tissue to heal and regenerate. She was in quite a bit of discomfort for the first few days. She is now out of the woods and the leg has started to heal beautifully."
Irwin said the filly has not been lame and she has not spiked a temperature since leaving the operating table. Dr. Gary Priest, a veterinary consultant for Team Valor and Green Lantern, has been supervising the filly recovery.
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