State lifts hold order at Laurel Park barn

Monday, March 6, 2006

Horses isolated at Laurel Park amid a statewide equine herpes scare have been cleared to race after testing negative for the virus, the state Department of Agriculture said.

The state has cleared 34 restricted horses in Laurel Barn 9 to race Wednesday.

The Department of Agriculture lifted a hold order Friday limiting movement by horses in Barn 9.

Two horses testing positive for the virus but not showing symptoms, however, have been relocated to the Bowie Training Center.

The two horses will be isolated in a barn on the center’s grandstand side and returned to Laurel if they test negative. Results from tests completed Friday are expected to be returned in a week, said Kate Wagner, a spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture.

Bio-security precautions such as limiting access to the barn and requiring persons interacting with the horses to change their clothes remain in effect.

Equine herpes causes upper respiratory infection and can cause neurological disease.

A filly from Barn 9 was euthanized in January after testing positive for the neurological form.