Gulfstream Barns Released From Precautionary Quarantine

Two barns at Gulfstream Park had a precautionary quarantine lifted after one day March 10, a track spokesman confirmed. The barns had been quarantined after a horse at the track was euthanized following neurological difficulties the evening of March 9.

The quarantine prohibited horses in the affected stables from training on Wednesday and resulted in the scratches of 14 horses from the day's races, according to Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream.

In a text message to horsemen around 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, which was distributed on Twitter, Gulfstream said training was back to normal for all barns.

The initial quarantine was made out of caution, Benson said, during a time when veterinarians and equine health officials are on alert for EHV-1, which is from the family of the equine herpesvirus. Two cases of EHV-1 were reported over the past week in Maryland, one at Laurel Park, leading to a quarantine of four barns there and the cancellation of racing March 12. A barn has also been quarantined in Ocala, Fla., following confirmed EHV-1 cases.

EHV-1 is contagious among horses and can cause respiratory and neurological disease and abortion in pregnant mares. Barns are typically quarantined for 14 days or longer after a confirmed case.

Benson said earlier on Wednesday that she didn't believe the stricken horse was infectious but that a cautious approach was appropriate.