Eight new cases of equine herpesvirus confirmed at Remington Park

There were eight new confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus at Remington Park in the latest round of Oklahoma Department of Agriculture tests returned Wednesday, but all of the cases were asymptomatic and the horses have been placed in a special isolation barn on the backstretch, according to Matt Vance, Remington’s vice president of racing operations.

Vance said the two horses who returned positive tests Nov. 21 tested negative for EHV-1 on Wednesday. He also said no horses in the first of the two barns quarantined since the initial case Nov. 14 tested positive Wednesday.

“All horses continue to be asymptomatic, showing no clinical signs of illness,” Vance said.

“The biggest thing right now is we don’t have any sick horses.”

Remington hopes to see the quarantine for the first barn lift by Dec. 5. The 14-day clock has been reset on the second barn. Remington races through Dec. 15, closing the meet with its co-richest race, the $400,000 Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds. Nominations for that race and five undercard stakes supporting it have been extended a week, to Dec. 7. The Springboard Mile awards points for the Kentucky Derby. Entries are Dec. 11.

Vance said he has been told by state veterinarians that Remington’s strict policy concerning equine herpesvirus vaccination has played a role in containing the virus. It’s also been key, he said, that the positives have been kept in a special isolation barn.

Delta Downs, Fair Grounds, Louisiana Downs, Oaklawn, Sam Houston, the Downs at Albuquerque, Retama Park, and Zia Park are among tracks in the region that have temporarily closed their stable areas to horses from Remington. The facilities have varying restrictions in place.