UPDATE ON EHV-1 AT FAIR GROUNDS

By Brian Spencer —-

NEW ORLEANS (January 13, 2017) – Additional horses have tested positive for EHV-1 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The entirety of Barn 14, Barn 36 and the Receiving Barn had blood pulled and nasal swabs taken for testing on Wednesday.

Barn 14 returned 19 positive tests, with Barn 36 returning nine positive tests, and the Receiving Barn returning two positive tests. These positive tests reset the quarantine window for all three barns.

A horse in Barn 45, trained by Andrew McKeever, also returned a positive test, placing Barn 45 under a mandated 14-day quarantine.

All of the tests returned positive results for the “wild” strain of EHV-1. Since the onset of the outbreak, only two of the positive results have been for the neurological type of EHV-1.

At this time, Fair Grounds officials are working with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture to secure additional space off property to isolate the horses who have tested positive and are working with the LSRC to further strengthen quarantine protocols and biosecurity measures.

Under the guidance of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and the USDA, Fair Grounds officials continue to monitor the situation closely and will follow all protocols as directed by those two governing bodies.

Live racing continues Saturday at 1:25 p.m.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 145th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 104th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 2016 through April 2017. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.