The Maryland Department of Agriculture confirmed today that a second horse, Hey Ralphy, a filly trained by Rodney Jenkins at Laurel Park, was infected with equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1). The 3-year-old was euthanatized on Jan. 26 with a suspected pelvic injury. A hold order has been placed on Barn 9 at the central Maryland track. Jenkins has elected not to train any of his horses until the hold order ends.

“We are working cooperatively with all involved parties using the most up-to-date science and respected practices, and going beyond what has been done in previous EHV incidents around the country, to manage this situation,” said Maryland State Veterinarian, Guy Hohenhaus, DVM. “We urge everyone’s patience and diligence in continuing strong preventive measures such as keeping new horses separate from others for a period of time, disinfecting, and keeping vaccinations up to date. It is a matter of time and continued proper management to bring this outbreak to conclusion.”

Three horses have been euthanatized at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, Laurel’s sister track, this month, where the outbreak was first discovered. Another horse, so far unlinked with the Barn 5 and 6 incidents, was euthanatized last week at a Kent County farm. The EHV-1 organism can cause three different forms of disease, including rhinopneumonitis (“rhino,” a respiratory disease often affecting young horses), abortions in pregnant mares, and neurologic disease.

Eight horses suffering from the virus remain isolated in the Pimlico Detention Barn. The Maryland Jockey Club proactively placed the historic Baltimore oval on quarantine on Jan 21, restricting the movement of horses. There have been no new cases on of EHV-1 at Pimlico since Jan 19