Maryland officials confirm gelding had EHV-1

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.