Calder track quarantines 3 barns after horse diagnosed with herpes By David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel
December 1, 2009
The racing industry moved quickly to prevent the spread of equine herpes virus 1, a potentially deadly disease diagnosed over the weekend in a horse at Calder Race Course.
The female horse was euthanized Sunday, and the track imposed a three-week quarantine on three stables containing about 100 horses, spokeswoman Michele Blanco said.
The track postponed two $100,000 stakes races scheduled for Saturday — the Tropical Turf Handicap and the My Charmer Handicap — which were to draw participants from northern states. Other races will proceed.
Other Florida tracks, including Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, announced they would temporarily bar any horses from Calder from their property, restricting the common practice of moving horses from track to track to compete.
Equine herpes virus 1 is a highly contagious disease that can cause respiratory problems, neurological disabilities and spontaneous abortions in the horse.
SOURCE & FULL STORY Spontaneous abortions??