The Maryland Department of Agriculture placed an initial “Investigational Animal Hold Order” on Barn 1 at the Bowie Training Center in Bowie, Md., this afternoon (Feb. 1) after a horse showed clinical signs of neurologic equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1).

The horse, trained by Chris Grove, began showing neurologic signs late last week. After discussions with his private veterinarian, the trainer decided to relocate his horse today to an empty barn behind the Bowie grandstand as a precautionary measure. Grove indicated his horse was feeling energetic,”bucking, and kicking,” when he walked it to the isolated barn.

Blood samples and nasal swabs were taken on the horse this afternoon (Feb. 1). Results should be available early next week. Until then, none of the 29 horses in Grove’s barn will be allowed to race at Laurel Park. Grove has elected not to train any of his horses until the results of the tests are revealed.

Four horses have been euthanatized at major Maryland tracks this year–three at Pimlico Race Course and one at Laurel Park. Another horse was euthanatized last week at a Kent County farm