Northville barn quarantined

A barn at Northville Down in Michigan is under quarantine after a horse was discovered to be stricken with rhinopneumonitis, a highly infectious viral disease caused by a herpes virus. The afflicted horse, which has been euthanized, was Speedy Tino, a 6-year-old pacer who, ironically, had never set foot in the United States but was brought to Northville after being claimed by Michigan trainer Pasko Vucinaj at Trois Rivieres in Quebec Oct. 24 for $5,000(C).



"Testing at the diagnostic clinic at Michigan State University showed that the horse had been affected with the equine herpes virus (EHV-1)," confirmed Michigan Office of the Racing Commissioner spokesman Dominic Perrone. "We are currently tracing back and tracing forward all other horses who have come into contact (with Speedy Tino)."



Because of a 60-day rule restricting claimed horses from starting out of the province, Vucinaj was not able to start Speedy Tino at Northville. The son of Survivor Gold had 148 career starts, with 22 wins and $69,824 in earnings. In 2004 he won eight times in 38 starts and $14,763 in purses.



Perrone added that a second horse is displaying signs of being affected and is currently being tested. Included among the other trainers whose horses are now under a 21-day quarantine are Fred Webster Jr., Richard Jonas and Ed Konrad.

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