Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

EVH-1 Update at Balmoral

June 4, 2007

The EHV-1 contamination that necessitated the quarantining of trainer Nelson Willis’ stable at Balmoral Park for the past two months has ended. Dr. David Fitzpatrick, chief veterinarian for the Illinois Racing Board has stated that “everything is back to normal at Balmoral.”

“All of trainer Nelson Willis’ horses have now come back with negative tests for EHV-1,” Fitzpatrick said. “All of them are back at Balmoral and jogging and training on a daily basis.”

Fitzpatrick noted that the only remaining issue concerning the EHV-1 situation was in regards to horses who are set to be exported. Horses who raced or shipped into Balmoral and Maywood Parks from April 3 through April 24 were given a mandatory quarantine status in regards to shipping out of the country, whether it be to Canada or elsewhere.

“The Canadian department of agriculture established April 24 as the day from which the 60-day quarantine began,” Fitzpatrick said. “That is the date they’re using, so therefore the quarantine period is in effect until June 24th. These are the guidelines set by the Canadian department of agriculture, and any horsemen wishing to race there from here, needs to contact them if there is any question regarding their racing status.”