Equine Herpesvirus Test Pending on Philly Park Horse

Officials at Philadelphia Park are awaiting test results from a horse that was euthanized Feb. 23 to determine whether it had equine herpesvirus.

Kari Oakie, a 3-year-old filly trained by Armand Correnti, fell during training hours at Philly Park and was euthanized with a suspected spinal cord injury. Before she was euthanized, nasal swabs were taken and tested positive for EHV-1. The horse was then sent to the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania for additional tests.

"We should know by (March 2) whether or not she definitely had EHV-1," Philly Park director of racing Sal Sinatra said. "In the meantime, all horses in Correnti's barn are quarantined and cannot train or race. What is puzzling is that the filly had been on the grounds since April, there are no sick horses in her barn, and we've been under a backstretch quarantine since Jan. 24."

Sinatra said that even if the tests from New Bolton come back negative, there is a strong possibility he will extend the track's quarantine to March 17. In addition, those horses stabled in Correnti's barn will be confined there until March 17.

Sinatra said he hopes the case would prove to be similar to one in Maryland in which a horse that showed signs of EHV-1 actually had equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM).

Kari Oakie, a daughter of Concerto owned by Louis Bottiglia, last raced at Philadelphia Park Jan. 22. She had placed once in three starts.