Two more horses at Turfway test positive for equine herpesvirus

In addition to a horse that tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV1) and was euthanized last week, two more Thoroughbreds in a quarantined barn at Turfway Park have since tested positive for the virus. Arrangements are being made to remove the two horses from Turfway, according to a statement from Kentucky Department of Agriculture officials.

The two new cases also came from Barn 14, which had housed the deceased horse. All 26 horses who shared that barn were tested for the virus on Monday.

Some horses are latently infected with the equine herpesvirus without showing any signs of the disease, while a small percentage develop the far more dangerous neurological strain, which is what afflicted the horse that was euthanized. The statement from Kentucky agriculture officials did not say if these two new horses were showing symptoms of illness beyond testing positive from blood and nasal-swab testing.

The quarantine at Turfway, following EHV1-related quarantines earlier this winter at Belmont Park and Laurel, is expected to last a minimum of two weeks. A barn quarantine cannot be lifted until all horses test negative for the virus.

Delta Downs, Fair Grounds, Laurel Park, and Oaklawn Park have announced they will not allow horses to ship into their facilities from Turfway.