Testing of samples collected yesterday (February 5) on the 26 horses housed in the quarantined barn at Turfway Park have been reported by the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The results of this initial assessment of the barn’s population identified two additional positive horses.
These results brings the cumulative total to three positive horses in two separate stables housed in the affected barn. The remaining 24 having tested negative.
One of the horses identified as positive today is a 4-year-old filly which was positive on both nasal swab and in the whole blood buffy coat. The second positive, a 2014 gelding, was positive only on the nasal swab.
Arrangements are underway for these two horses, along with a non-Thoroughbred pony in the barn, to be removed from the backside and transferred into isolation off the grounds.
Cumulative Summary
As of February 6, 2018, 1 Barn at Turfway Park is under quarantine for EHV-1.
Three horses, under the care of two different trainers, have been found positive by PCR testing (two were found to be positive on blood and nasal swab, with the third being nasal swab positive, blood negative).
The quarantined barn has 24-hour, guarded security, with entry into the barn restricted to essential personnel only and biosecurity levels at alert status.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue to have personnel on the grounds working with the track management, horsemen, veterinarians and racing officials, who all have the common goal of maintaining a safe and healthy racing environment for the horsemen at Turfway Park.
The Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office is encouraging horsemen currently stabled at Turfway Park that might be traveling to other destinations to confirm that their horses comply with all entry requirements for the destination facility.
Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian’s web page will be updated and maintained with the latest information available.
This information was provided by E.S. (Rusty) Ford, Equine Operations Consultant at the Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian.
