Hawthorne Backstretch Update, Thursday, November 15 – Noon
First
off is an update in regards to the horses within Barns 8, A and K2. These horses have been back in training for
over a week now, the horses within Barn 8 have been longer than that. For Barn 8, which contains 37 horses which
have tested negative for EHV-1, they will be tested again next week. If those results come back negative once
again, those horses will be allowed to be reunited with the backstretch
population, enter races, and train during regular training hours. The quarantine restrictions on that barn will
be lifted.
Barn A
now also currently houses only horses that have tested negative for EHV-1. These are horses that had originally tested
positive but have since been retested and have come back negative. While they are also allowed to train, their
timeframe for reintroduction into the horse population will be longer than
those within Barn 8. That timeframe will
be determined between the state veterinarian and Illinois Department of
Agriculture veterinarian.
In Barn
K2, there are two locations. The first
location houses horses that have tested positive for EHV-1 but are also
asymptomatic. Since these horses do not
show symptoms nor have fevers, they are also allowed to trainer during the
designated later morning hours. They
will be tested again in the coming week.
On
Wednesday, November 14, it was brought to the state and association
veterinarian’s attention by a practicing veterinarian that there were two horses
within Barn E at Hawthorne that needed to be monitored. We have created a separate area within Barn
K2 which is only for horses to be monitored for any concerns. We had two horses to be transferred to that
location on Wednesday.
While
the first horse transferred without issue, the second horse unfortunately
collapsed on the walk over. After being
examined by three veterinarians, it was determined that the horse should be
euthanized. As is the protocol for any
suspicious death, the horse was immediately transported to the University of
Illinois for a necropsy to determine that cause of death.
As with
everything, there are rumors that immediately are spread about. We ask that people do not spread rumors until
they have the facts. Currently we do not
know why this horse passed. The state
and association veterinarians have the history on the horse which will help
lead them to answers. Regarding the
second horse which was moved, which currently is the only horse within the
separate isolation area of K2, the vets also have a history on that horse.
This is
the reason we have the isolation area though.
In every case, if there is a concern, it is treated on a case by case
basis. The horse is removed from their
barn so they may be isolated and treated accordingly.
During the Thursday morning
pre-race examinations by the two association veterinarians, they were in
contact with the practicing veterinarians on the backstretch as they are daily. There were no new causes for concern from
horses within Barn E, nor any other Barn according to the practicing vets and
association vets.
With this virus, we are concerned
and overly cautious any time any situation arises. At the same time, there is currently one
horse of nearly 1,900 on our backstretch in the separate isolation area. Every other horse is allowed to train with
many more nearing their reintroduction to the horse population. Please, before starting any rumor, contact your
practicing veterinarian and have them contact the association or state veterinarian
for full details.
Jim Miller – Assistant General Manager, Hawthorne Race Course
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