EHV-1 Case Prompts Quarantine at Belmont
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Photo: NYRA
A filly at Belmont Park has been diagnosed with Equine Herpesvirus-1, in a case that has progressed to the neurologic form, forcing an immediate quarantine of Barn 10 at the Long Island facility.
It is the second quarantine at Belmont this winter and, like the first, is expected to lead to scratches in stakes races this weekend at Laurel Park in Maryland.
In all, 21 horses have been placed under a three-week mandatory quarantine. It comes just a few weeks after an earlier quarantine was lifted at the track's Barn 44 following a positive test for EHV-1.
In the latest case, a fever developed Feb. 12 in a 4-year-old filly trained by Tom Albertrani. By the evening of Feb. 15 the horse "began exhibiting clear neurologic symptoms," New York Racing Association officials said Feb. 16.
The other horses in the barn have not displayed any symptoms or fevers. During the quarantine period, which began at 7 p.m. Thursday, the quarantined horses will be barred from racing, but will be allowed to train separate from the rest of the horse population.
The quarantine decision was made by NYRA and the state Gaming Commission. A NYRA spokesman did not immediately say how many of the quarantined horses were scheduled to be shipped elsewhere for upcoming races.
Oaklawn Park announced Friday that, effective immediately and until further notice, any horse that has been at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., or Belmont Park since Jan. 24 will not be permitted on the grounds because of EHV-1.