The preliminary lab report on News Reporter, the gelding euthanized on
January 2, confirms that the five-year-old was infected with Equine Herpesvirus
(EHV-1), officials from the Maryland Department of Agriculture announced
Tuesday. The Charles Frock trainee was stabled in Barn 5 at Pimlico in
Baltimore, Maryland.
“The result of the diagnostic performed suggested that the horse had mounted
an extremely strong and recent immune response to the herpes virus, which is
very good evidence that we are dealing with a current infection and more
specifically a neurologic disease,” Maryland State Veterinarian Guy Hohenhaus
said. “This result was very consistent with what we expected. This confirms what
we and the veterinarians treating these animals have been suspecting for days.”
Officials at Pimlico placed a Hold Order on Barn 5 last Friday as well as
isolating horses in the Detention Barn. Four of the six isolated horses are
currently experiencing neurological signs. Horses trained by Frock, William
Christmas, Robert Gamber, Hassan Elamri and David Mohan are housed in Barn 5 and
not allowed to race until further notice. The 40 horses remaining in the barn
are permitted to train from 10 to 11 a.m. (EST) after regular training hours end
at 9:30 a.m.
“This outbreak is behaving like you would suspect a herpes outbreak to
behave. It is very similar to other outbreaks we have seen at similar facilities
over the last several years in that over a period of several days you have
several new horses spiking fevers and showing neurological signs,” HoHenhaus
added. “We are taking all the necessary precautionary measures to contain the
animals showing signs of suspected illness and have the full cooperation of all
parties involved.”
Full test results are expected back Friday.