Viral outbreak forces quarantine of barn, scratch of favorite

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Barn 32 at Woodbine has been put under quarantine after a horse trained by Krista Cole tested positive for the contagious disease Equine Herpesvirus, or EHV-1.

Horses were not allowed to leave the barn on Thursday, resulting in several scratches on Thursday’s card, including third-race favorite Gizmo’s B F F and Ala Turka. Once Woodbine receives confirmation that all horses in barn 32 test negative, a separate training session will be created to keep them isolated from the general horse population.

EHV-1 has an approximate incubation period of three to eight days and may, in some cases, be as long as 14 days. It is spread by nasal secretions and can live on gloves, boots, and equipment.

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