Payson quarantine eased

The Florida Department of Agriculture lifted the quarantine on the majority of horses stabled at Payson Park on Friday. The quarantine had been in place since a horse died from equine herpesvirus at the training facility, located in Indiantown Gap, Fla., on Dec. 22.

"Restrictions have been lifted on the majority of the population at Payson Park," said Dr. Mary Scollay, the track veterinarian at both Gulfstream Park and Calder. "A couple of barns involved in the original case remain restricted at this time."

Gulfstream Park's racing department took entries from Payson Park horses for Saturday and Sunday's programs after receiving word earlier this week the quarantine would likely be removed before the weekend. As a result of Friday's action by the Department of Agriculture, those horses are now cleared to race.