Horse Racing

A Barn at Churchill Downs Under Quarantine Due to EHV-1


A warehouse at Churchill Downs The 13-horse barn was quarantined on November 29 after an unidentified horse became ill there, and later, while the horse was being treated at a equine medical clinic, review Tests confirmed it had an infectious equine herpes virus.

According to Rusty Ford, equine operations consultant for the State Veterinary Office at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the ailing horse led by Saffie Joseph Jr. The trainer was showing signs of recovery from a fever Tuesday while at the Lexington horse clinic. Ford also confirmed the detection of the herpes virus in horses, with the horse testing positive for a strain called EHV-1.

EHV-1 has been detected elsewhere in the United States this year, including in Fonner Park and The Parx . Race. Some horses with EHV-1 may experience loss of coordination, hindlimb weakness, and lethargy, while others exhibit only mild symptoms or are asymptomatic carriers.

Ford said the unidentified horse was sent to the clinic after suffering from a fever, some awkward movements in the back and problems with bladder control. Ford said the 13 horses in the quarantine barn were trained by three different trainers.

Quarantine is intended to reduce the risk of spread in the full horse population. They are usually left on stables until state veterinary officials receive follow-up testing that none of the horses tested for illness or disease have been asymptomatic and a period of time has elapsed. specified time. Sometimes they can last two weeks or more.

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Will Farmer, equine medical director for Churchill Downs Inc. “We will proactively test all the horses in that barn tomorrow morning,” said. “We’ll make a plan when all those results come back.”

He and Ford said they anticipate those test results late November 30 or early December 1. Horses in stables will not be allowed to train on Wednesday.

Farmer William
Photo: Courtesy of Churchill Downs Inc.

Churchill Downs Inc.’s equine medical director, Dr. Will Farmer

Late November is a busy shipping time in Kentucky, with many horses sent south near or after the end of the Churchill Downs for winter racing in warmer climates. Churchill Downs concluded the meeting on November 27.

In response to the quarantine, 1/ST Racing, works Santa Anita . Park, Golden Gate Fieldsand Gulfstream Parkamong other racetracks and properties across the country, has issued a ban on shippers from Churchill Downs, pending the publication of veterinary findings and communication with Churchill Downs.

Horses shipped from Churchill Downs Trackside, a training center owned by Churchill Downs but located 5 miles from the facility, are not affected by the ban as long as their health certificate shows they have been on the Trackside, according to Dr. Dionne Benson, director of veterinary medicine with 1/ST Race.

She said the 1/ST Racing ban could be adjusted depending on test results and updates from Kentucky Agricultural and Agricultural officials.

“We’ve been on the other side of this a few times,” she said.

The New York Racing Association chose not to impose such a broad ban, noting in its statement that the overall horse population was not affected. A spokesman noted that only one horse was scheduled to be transported in Aqueduct race track for race weekend.

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