From Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has lifted a quarantine order for half of barn 47 at Churchill Downs, which was placed under quarantine Oct. 26 after it was found to be infected with equine herpesvirus.
Sixteen horses trained by Al Stall Jr. were allowed to return to regular training Oct. 30 after the Kentucky Department of Agriculture determined that none had an active EHV-1 infection and there was “minimal” opportunity for exposure to the virus. The 40-stall barn is divided by a firewall, and the infected horse had been stabled on the other side of the structure.
But 19 horses trained by David Carroll--a total that includes a stable pony--remained under quarantine Oct. 30 and confined to their side of barn 47. A 3-year-old Thoroughbred trained by Carroll was the lone horse to test positive for EHV-1. After he displayed unusual symptoms, the horse was moved to a Lexington equine hospital, where the virus was diagnosed.
All 19 horses on Carroll’s side of barn 47 have returned “negative” results on nasal and blood tests designed to detect infection by the virus. Rusty Ford, equine programs manager for the office of Kentucky State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Stout, said those horses would be tested again early next week, and their status would continue to be evaluated.
Policies and procedures designed to limit the introduction and spread of EHV-1 remain in place at Churchill Downs, which opened its 21-day fall meet Oct. 28.
All horses that enter and depart its stable area are required to present a veterinary certificate of health certifying the horse has been healthy for the previous 72 hours. Horses that ship in to compete in Churchill races are required to stable in either the receiving or stakes barns, and those barns--along with the starting gate, paddock, and equipment used by outriders--are being regularly disinfected.