Another herpes positive at Parx

On Tuesday, Sunshine Wild became the fifth horse to test positive for the equine herpesvirus at Parx Racing. The positive test restarts a 28-day quarantine clock at Parx that now runs through May 10.

The first four horses to test positive for the herpesvirus were all housed in Barn 30. Two were trained by Michael Aro and two by Ron Dandy. All four horses have died or been euthanized.

Sunshine Wild was claimed by trainer Butch Reid from Dandy on March 29 for $40,000. The next day, No Quid Pro Quo, the first horse to be confirmed to have the virus, became ill. Barn 4, where Reid and trainer Keith Nations are stabled, has since been quarantined along with Barn 30.

Horses in those barns are not allowed to train or race during the quarantine. The barns are off limits to all but essential personnel and are being disinfected from top to bottom on a daily basis.

Because Sunshine Wild was housed in Barn 30 with Dandy, he has been isolated from the other horses in Barn 4. Sunshine Wild tested negative for the virus last week, but the results of a second test came back positive Tuesday.

The equine herpesvirus can cause respiratory and neurological problems in horses.