Barn A added to Pimlico Hold Order; Turfway Barn 26
released from quarantine
An “Investigational Animal Hold Order” was placed on Barn A at Pimlico in
Baltimore, Maryland, after a horse stabled there started displaying symptoms of
Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) on Thursday. Barn A joins Barns 5 and 6 with a Hold
Order due to the herpes virus.
“The finding today of a horse with signs consistent with Equine Herpesvirus
in Barn A comes as a surprise to us and is very disappointing,” said Dr. Guy
Hohenhaus, Maryland state veterinarian. “While there is no way to know if this
suspected new case is connected with the others, we are looking into any
possible relationship between them to find and close any gaps that might allow
for transmission.”
The first sign of the herpes virus came in News Reporter, a gelding stabled
in Barn 5, who was euthanized on January 2. Tests later confirmed he was
carrying the virus. Most recently, a three-year-old filly from Barn 6 named
Kalli Calling was euthanized on January 13. The Maryland Department of
Agriculture expects to receive test results on whether she was infected with the
disease either Friday or Monday.
Pimlico officials isolated six horses showing symptoms of herpes virus in the
Detention Barn (Barn 8), with tests revealing the presence of the virus in the
bloodstream of all six horses. It has been 10 days since those original six
horses have shown signs of the virus. Two horses from Barn 6 have been moved to
the Detention Barn after coming down with high fevers. They have not shown any
neurologic signs of the disease.
“We applaud the conscientious efforts of everyone at the track for their
efforts to contain this incident,” Hohenhaus said. “Based on the current
situation in Barns 5 and 6, we believe that the preventive actions in place are
working and we continue to try to bring closure to this difficult situation just
as soon as possible.”
Nearly 115 horses are currently affected by the Hold Orders at Pimlico. They
are allowed to train from 10-11:30 a.m. (EST) after normal training hours have
ended.
The quarantine on Barn 26 at Turfway Park was lifted
on Thursday after all horses stabled in that barn tested negative for herpes
virus. They were examined, with no abnormal findings, and have been symptom-free
for more than 21 days. All 48 horses from Barn 26 will be allowed to resume
training with the general population at Turfway on Friday.
Barn 27 at the track remains under quarantine after initial test results came
back showing 11 horses affected by the virus and three more suspected of a
recent infection. More samples will be taken on Sunday.
More testing was scheduled for Thursday on Turfway lead ponies and outrider
horses, who were moved off track grounds and isolated. Initial PCR assays on
those horses were all negative to EHV-1 DNA from nasal swabs taken earlier.
Sixteen horses stabled at the Western Kentucky Training Center in Henderson
remain under quarantine after two fillies started showing signs of EHV-1. A
Monday examination revealed no abnormal findings and samples were taken and sent
off to be tested for the virus.
All Kentucky horses are still prohibited entry to Mountaineer Park and
Charles Town by the West Virginia Racing Commission.