Turfway takes steps to protect against equine herpes

Barn 26, a 50-horse barn at Turfway Park, remains under quarantine after a

three-year-old filly who tested positive for the equine herpesvirus (EVH-1) was euthanized on Friday. The

Chuck Simon-trained filly, Coupe Aux Marrons (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), began exhibiting signs of the neurological disease

last week and was shipped from Turfway to Hagyard-Davidson-McGee clinic in

Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday.

According to Dr. Robert Stout, Kentucky state veterinarian with the

Department of Agriculture, there remains only one case (Coupe Aux Marrons) of

equine herpes where clinical evidence confirms the manifestation of the

neurological variety of the disease. However, based on blood samples analyzed at

the University of Kentucky Livestock Diagnostic Center in Lexington, Kentucky,

other horses housed in Barn 26 have been exposed to the virus.

None of the other horses who have tested positive for the presence of the

virus exhibit any symptoms of the neurological manifestation of the virus.

"At the current time, other horses in Barn 26 who may have been exposed to

this virus are not exhibiting clinical signs of EVH-1 infection," Stout said.

"We have reports that each of those horses appears to be in satisfactory

condition with no negative effects resulting from exposure."

All horses stabled in Barn 26 were required to be tested to determine if the

virus was present in their bloodstream or nasal secretions.

In addition to precautionary steps implemented by Turfway last week, track

officials announced the following precautions:

* Effective Wednesday, all horses shipping onto Turfway grounds will be

required to show a current health certificate issued within 24 hours of arriving

at Turfway

* Effective Wednesday, all horses shipping from Turfway grounds will be

required to show a current health certificate issued within 24 hours of leaving

Turfway

* Effective January 11, 2006, all horses providing pony-to-post services will

be required to demonstrate inoculation against equine herpes no sooner than

January 4 and no later than 90 days prior to the date of arrival

* Effective January 11, all horses shipping onto Turfway grounds will be

required to demonstrate inoculation against equine herpes no sooner than January

4 and no later than 90 days prior to the date of arrival

"These steps, while perhaps inconvenient, will continue to provide confidence

to our horsemen and other racing jurisdictions that we are taking whatever

steps necessary to ensure the safety of these animals," Turfway President Robert

Elliston said. "With the assistance of Dr. Stout's team, the KHRA, and Kentucky

horsemen, we are trying to ensure a safe environment and a return to normalcy as

soon as possible for those horsemen adversely affected in Barn 26."

EVH-1

can be spread through the air, and disinfectants have been used to sterilize

such public areas as the shipping barn and starting gates. Continued testing of

those horses located in Barn 26 will be conducted on Wednesday to confirm no

further evidence of spread of the disease, with a possible return to segregated

training as early as Saturday.