An outrider’s horse at Turfway Park that had run a fever last week and tested positive on Dec. 29, 2005, for herpesvirus developed neurologic signs on Jan. 1, declined rapidly, and was euthanatized, according to Rusty Ford of the Kentucky State Veterinarian’s office.

As of yesterday evening (Jan. 2), no other lead ponies in the outriders’ barn had shown clinical signs of neurologic herpesvirus. The remaining six horses in that barn were sampled again last night, with results expected back at the end of the week.

In addition, 28 other horses at Turfway Park used as lead ponies were sampled. Ford said no additional horses at Turfway have shown clinical signs of neurologic herpesvirus.

Those horses in Barn 26 (where the outbreak began) that were examined this morning, were not running a fever, and had tested negative for equine herpesvirus, were to be allowed restricted access to the track for training this morning after regular training hours, noted Ford. He said with Turfway being dark for racing today, it would give officials a good idea of how much time it would take to secure the regular population of horses at the track after regular training hours, and to get the horses from Barn 26 on and off the track