Horse virus affects Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- A barn at Churchill Downs in Louisville is under quarantine because of a case of the equine herpes virus.

The Louisville Courier-Journal Friday quoted Churchill Downs spokesman John Asher as saying the quarantine affects 39 horses, and one pony in barn 47.

The order came from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture after nasal swabs and blood tests were taken.

"The hope is everything's negative on those," Asher told the newspaper.

He said initial tests Thursday night showed the neurological form of the virus in a horse trained by David Carroll.

That horse was transported from the track to a Lexington clinic, and Asher added no horse entered or left the barn after the Carroll horse left.

The order was made two days before the start of the fall meet at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Al Stall also has a horse in the barn.