Kentucky agriculture officials announced Saturday evening that a second barn has been placed under quarantine as a result of the equine herpes virus (EHV-1). It follows a quarantine of a barn there earlier this week.

Horses at The Thoroughbred Center that are not in the quarantined barns are still able to leave the premises to race at Turfway Park, where there is also a barn under quarantine - though with restrictions.

Here is the full statement from Rusty Ford from the Office of the State Veterinarian:

"On Friday, February 16th Barn 30 (in addition to Barn 3 that was quarantined earlier this week, and Barn 7 that we are using to house positive horses) at the Thoroughbred Center (TCC) in Lexington was placed under Order of Quarantine following a horse in that barn being confirmed positive for EHV-1 ‘wild type’.

The patient, after presenting with a fever, was moved from the barn into isolation and precautionary measures implemented on Thursday evening. With the confirmation of EHV1 on Friday Barn 30 was quarantined, perimeter fencing to control movement in and around the barn area erected, guarded security placed on the barn and biosecurity procedures implemented at ALERT status.

Earlier today, Saturday February 17, representatives from the KY Office of State Veterinarian (Dr. Stout and I), The Thoroughbred Center’s management and horsemen met to share the factual information and provide opportunity for a Question and Answer session. Additionally, in consultation with management at Turfway Park, a protocol has been developed that can allow horses from the non-affected barn areas at The Thoroughbred Center (to include horses that ship-in to train/work at TTC) to enter for racing at Turfway beginning on Thursday February 22. Protocols will include a thorough veterinary examination made on the morning of the day’s racing; and if determined the horse meets entry requirements (that includes negative EIA, current EHV1 vaccination, normal body temperature etc.) a health certificate is to be issued for the movement. Horses from The Thoroughbred Center will ship to Turfway Park and stable in the designated area and assigned stall in the receiving barn. Following the night’s racing the horss will return to The Center. The measures allowing this movement for racing is made after our horsemen here in KY at both The Thoroughbred Center and Turfway Park have demonstrated their individual and collective commitment of serving and insuring all possible precautions are taken to insure Kentucky’s racing environment remains a healthy and viable environment."