NYRA to Accept Maryland Shippers March 18

(from NYRA release)
The New York Racing Association will allow horses to ship into its racetracks – Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga – from Maryland beginning March 18, providing those horses meet certain requirements.

NYRA had banned horses from shipping in from Laurel, Pimlico, and Bowie because of reported cases of equine herpesvirus type 1. Maryland has been fighting the disease since News Reporter, a 5-year-old gelding, had to be euthanized after testing positive for EHV-1 Jan. 2. Several other horses were later lost or were found to have the virus.

"We also want to make it clear that any horse that ships from New York to Maryland will have to meet these requirements in order to come back." said Dr. Anthony Verderosa, NYRA's chief examining veterinarian. "Basically, they will be treated as if they originated in Maryland."

The requirements are as follows:

* A 48-hour health certificate with each horse's temperature clearly written;

* Proof of vaccination against EHV-1 no less than seven days and no more than 90 days prior to arrival with the vaccination date clearly written on the health certificate by the issuing veterinarian;

* A statement by the issuing veterinarian that each horse has not originated from a barn with an active EHV-1 infection.