Kentucky has issued updated guidance for horses moving between Gulfstream Park and tracks and facilities in the Bluegrass State following a recent Equine Herpesvirus positive at Gulfstream.
In guidance published Jan. 26, the Equine Disease Communications Center declared that horses must meet several requirements.
According to the EDCC website, the horse's trainer or veterinarian must contact the equine medical director, or his designated person, and "provide required information on each horse that is seeking approval to move to the track."
In order for a horse to be approved, its temperature must be monitored and recorded twice daily for seven days after arriving at the track/training facility, with temperature logs posted on the stall. Additionally, any "elevated fever or other sign or suspicion of illness shall immediately be reported to the equine medical director."
The horse is to "travel on a Health Certificate showing examination and issuance of the certificate performed the day of departure or during the 12 hours immediately preceding the departure." This certificate will include its EHV vaccination, the date the equine medical director signed off on the move, as well as estimated time of departure and arrival in Kentucky.
These requirements may be adjusted, in consultation with track equine medical directors, without advance notice should conditions at Gulfstream change.
One positive case of EHV was found in Barn 21 at Gulfstream Jan. 21.
