Md. Jockey Club Limits Shipping of Horses to Laurel Park
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Concerned about the spread of a highly contagious virus discovered in a horse at Laurel Park on Wednesday, the Maryland Jockey Club yesterday barred all horses from shipping into the track except from the Bowie Training Center.
A 2-year-old filly in the barn of trainer King Leatherbury was found unable to stand in her stall Wednesday, and after blood testing at the University of Maryland was found to have equine herpesvirus, which can cause upper respiratory infection and severe neurological problems.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture quarantined the barn and began testing other horses that live there. Tom Chuckas, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, then announced the restriction on shippers.
"It was a precautionary move," Chuckas said. "It's in the best interest of everyone in the industry. It helps to facilitate the ability of horses not based on the grounds to race in other jurisdictions."
The Laurel racing office reported 48 horses scratched from yesterday's race card -- more than half the number entered -- including 38 shippers and another 10 local horses that were scratched because rain forced races off the turf.
The quarantine on the barn, called an investigational animal hold order, lasts 21 days. Chuckas did not rule out cutting races at the track if the racing office struggles with small fields. The race card this afternoon has lost 29 runners, and one race has just two horses remaining.
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