Turfway Park Update: Two Additional EHV Positives Reported Tuesday
Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
One barn remains under quarantine at Turfway Park after a horse was euthanized as a result of the equine herpesvirus (EHV-Type 1 wild strain).
On Feb. 6, the following was released by Rusty Ford of the Kentucky State Veterinarian's office:
Testing of samples collected yesterday (2/5) on the 26 horses housed in the quarantined barn have been reported by the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the results of this initial assessment of the barn’s population did identify two additional positive horses. These results brings the cumulative total to 3 positive horses in two separate stables housed in the affected barn have tested positive, with the remaining 24 having tested negative.
Recommended for You
One of the horses identified as positive today is a 4yo filly who was positive on both nasal swab and in the whole blood buffy coat; the second positive, a 2014 gelding was positive only on the nasal swab. Arrangements are underway for these two horses, along with a non-thoroughbred pony in the barn to be removed from the backside and into isolation off the grounds.
Cumulative Summary as of 2/6/18 is 1 Barn at Turfway Park is under quarantine for EHV-1. Three horses, under the care of two different trainers, have been found positive by PCR testing (2 were found to be positive on blood and nasal swab, with the third being nasal swab positive, blood negative.
The quarantined barn has 24hr guarded security with entry into the barn restricted to essential personnel only and biosecurity levels are implemented at alert status. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue to have personnel on the grounds working with the track management, horsemen, veterinarians and racing officials which all have the common goal of maintaining a safe and healthy racing environment for our horsemen at Turfway Park.
I am encouraging horsemen currently stabled at Turfway that might be traveling to other destinations to check and confirm their horses comply with all entry requirements.
Additionally, I have asked that the KY Department of Agriculture’s Office State Veterinarian’s web page be updated and maintained with the latest information available being posted and expect this update to be posted early tomorrow.
