Meadows cancels more races as additional horses quarantined after virus outbreak
Races have been canceled at the Meadows Racetrack Monday through Wednesday as the Bureau of Animal Health is taking “precautionary measures” to avoid further contamination from a contagious equine herpes virus outbreak which began in several of the track’s stables last week, according to a release from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association.
Barns 5, 19 and 23 were placed under quarantine Saturday to go along with the previously quarantined Barns 6 and 21, the release said.
The horses in the barns that were quarantined Saturday showed elevated body temperatures, but were not symptomatic of EVH, the release said.
The Racing Commission, Bureau of Animal Health, Meadows management and MSOA are continuing to monitor the EVH outbreak.
Two barns at the Meadows Racetrack in North Strabane were placed under quarantine this week after one horse was diagnosed Jan. 19 with EVH, according to the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association.
Sixty horses are being quarantined after possibly being exposed to the horse diagnosed with EHV-1 herpes, a reproductive and respiratory disease.
A restriction on the horses in the stable’s Barn 21 will remain in place until Feb. 6, unless horses there begin to show symptoms, the association said. Barn 6, where the sick horse was originally stabled, will be restricted until Feb. 21.
Racing was first canceled Tuesday night due to a power outage at the track, the association said, and again Wednesday out of concern about the virus. Racing was expected to resume Saturday with nonquarantined horses.