Dover Downs may be closed after another EHV-1 case discovered

Hugh Gallagher, executive director of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission, is considering stopping racing at Dover Downs after a second horse, a 2-year-old trotter, has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1. The first positive resulted in the 7-year-old mare Tintabella N being euthanized.

"This latest positive is not good," Gallagher, said in a delawareonline.com story. "The [infected] horses have never been together, never raced or trained at Dover. If we get to a third case, I will go to Dr. Hirst and try to get [her] to possibly suggest they stop racing at Dover and then poll the commission to see if I have their support. Then, I would ask for a second, even third opinion from experts, even outside of the state."

The second case of EHV-1 was discovered at a farm on Paradise Alley Road in Felton, Del., less than five miles from the Dovington Training Center where the mare was put down. Both places have been put on a 21-day quarantine by the state veterinarian, according to the story.

According to the story, Dover Downs has not barred horses from either facility. New Jersey and Pennsylvania officials have barred horses from the Dovington Training Center.

To read the complete story, click here.

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