Penn ends Maryland ban

Beginning Wednesday, Penn National Race Course will accept entries from horses stabled at Laurel Park, Pimlico, and the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, ending a ban on Maryland shippers in effect since late January.

Horses from Maryland will be permitted into the Penn National barn area as of midnight Thursday. The track had imposed a ban on Maryland-based horses because of an outbreak, since contained, of equine herpesvirus.

All horses shipping to Penn National must present a health certificate issued within 48 hours of arrival stating that the animal has not been exposed to the virus or has shown signs of it within three weeks.