Equine herpesvirus suspected at Monmouth Park

An unconfirmed case of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) was suspected over the

weekend at Monmouth Park. As a result, the New Jersey Sports & Exposition

Authority has placed strict limitations on horses at Monmouth Park and ship-ins

to the Meadowlands.

The limitations include a ban on all horses shipping anywhere from Monmouth

Park, with the exception of shippers to the Meadowlands for racing. Horses that

ship into the Meadowlands for racing will need to ship to Monmouth after they

have raced and remain with the general population of horses there for 12 days

(the incubation period of the virus).

"It is an unconfirmed case, but nonetheless it requires the most restrictive

and diligent course of action possible," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president

of racing for the NJSEA. "After meeting with veterinarians and horsemen today,

it was agreed that this course of action was the most optimal in ensuring the

protection of everyone who could be affected."

Two horses shipped in from Canada late last week to the Monmouth Park stable

area, both with all the required international veterinary certificates. One of

those horses spiked a fever after arriving (often considered common for

ship-ins) and was subsequently treated for that fever.

Suspicions of the equine herpesvirus arose when five horses in that same barn

all came down with a fever, at which time the barn was completely quarantined as

a pre-cautionary measure. The quarantine affects the stables of John Forbes, Tim

Hills, Bill Anderson and Justin Nixon.

"It's important to remember that this is an unconfirmed case and results from

the tests taken on the five suspected horses will be back in a day or two," Dowd

added. "Furthermore, none of the horses who were tested showed outward symptoms

of the equine herpesvirus. We are just taking every pre-cautionary measure

possible until we have definitive results."

No restrictions on training at Monmouth Park are in place at this time with

the exception of horses stabled in the quarantined barn.

Live racing will continue at the Meadowlands as scheduled.