Laurel Horse Tests Positive

Euthanized Filly Was First at Track With Equine Herpesvirus

A horse euthanized last Thursday at Laurel Park after first showing signs of lameness and, later, paralysis has tested positive for equine herpesvirus, state veterinary and racing officials announced yesterday.

The 3-year-old filly, who ran for trainer Rodney Jenkins, became the first racehorse based at Laurel Park that had the virus diagnosed and fifth euthanized in the state since an outbreak began Jan. 2 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Initially, state and private veterinarians believed the filly, Hey Ralphy, had been suffering from a pelvic injury. Precautionary tests were taken, however.

Eight horses and a Laurel Park outrider's pony remain isolated with the virus at Pimlico, while three other barns at the track continue to operate under an "Investigational Animal Hold Order" by the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

A horse that shipped in from Penn National in Grantville, Pa., to race earlier this month at Laurel also has tested positive. A farm in Kent County, Md., where one of the horses was euthanized, is under a state hold because several horses there remain ill.

Laurel Park's Barn 9, where Jenkins stables his horses, will be quarantined for 21 days from the date the filly was euthanized.

"Needless to say, we are disappointed about the outcome of the horse in Barn 9 at Laurel," said Lou Raffetto, the track's chief operating officer, at a news conference yesterday. "We're going to conduct business as usual here. This has been the case in other jurisdictions that have faced these situations. As it relates to the horses in Barn 9, they will be quarantined in isolation for another 17 days, pending the outcome of testing."

Track management gave Jenkins, who stables 35 horses at Laurel, the option of working his horses after normal morning training hours, but he declined.

"I think that's the only sensible thing any horseman can do," Jenkins said. "Let's try to stop this thing and get it over with.

"I have horses that are ready to run, but 17 days will not hurt these horses' fitness. You're talking about missing maybe one big work. The owners all were great about it. They said, 'Why go out there?' "

Track management and state veterinary officials had hoped to keep the virus confined to Pimlico and said no clear evidence exists about its origin or transfer. Tests on the euthanized filly's nasal passages found the virus, which means she likely was contagious.

"We placed a 21-day order which started on the day the horse was euthanized," said Guy Hohenhaus, the Maryland state veterinarian. "That clock is already ticking. That barn is being monitored along with strict preventative measures. Temperatures are being monitored so we can identify any new cases, and today there have not been any other sick animals in that barn or any other barn at Laurel."

Raffetto, who already has canceled two days of racing at Laurel because of a horse shortage caused by the outbreak, had hoped to allow Pimlico trainers, barred from racing since Jan. 21, to resume entering horses beginning with Saturday's race card at Laurel. With the new positive test, however, he has decided to extend the ban through Feb. 7.

"It would mean that we would then allow our horses to enter this Friday for the first day of racing next week [Wednesday]," Raffetto said. "We are hopeful the situation at Pimlico is under control and it's just one isolated incident here. We'll take whatever steps are necessary to keep it in one spot."