A Bergen County man who became New Jersey’s first casualty to the coronavirus COVID-19 was a prominent figure in the horse racing community

Standardbred Owners Association (SOA) of New York president Joe Faraldo identified the patient as 69-year-old John Brennan, of Little Ferry, according to a post on the Harness Racing Update Facebook page.

New Jersey officials did not release the name but say that the patient had underlying health issues before contracting coronavirus. Officials say that he suffered from diabetes, hypertension, emphysema and other medical conditions before he contracted coronavirus. Officials say that he went to his doctor last week with a cough and was given Tamiflu, but did not improve.

Brennan had been hospitalized at Hackensack University Medical Center since last Friday and his condition began to deteriorate on Monday night. He was revived from cardiac arrest on Monday, but suffered another Tuesday morning and died.

Yonkers Raceway canceled Tuesday’s races as a precaution. There is concern that others at the racetrack contracted the virus, including Faraldo.

Brennan was part owner and trainer of the Hambletonian runner-up Sugar Trader.

 

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