Oldsmar Racetrack in Florida has placed two barns under quarantine following a horse testing positive for the equine herpes virus, as reported by Tampa Bay Downs on social media. It remains unclear which strain of the virus was detected in Tampa or if this case is connected to the recent neurological EHV-1/EHM outbreak at a barrel racing event in Texas. (Updates will be provided as more details emerge.)
The barns quarantined in Tampa are numbers 25 and 26. Horses in these barns will have separate training schedules and will require temperature checks twice daily. Beginning December 12, every horse entering the Tampa stable area must have a health certificate that is no older than 24 hours.
Equine herpesviruses commonly include EHV-1, EHV-3, EHV-4, and EHV-5, with EHV-1 being the most severe. This highly contagious virus can cause respiratory issues, miscarriages, or neurological problems in horses.
In response, Gulfstream Park has temporarily halted the transport of horses from Tampa Bay Downs to Hallandale as of early December 10. A horse from trainer Kathleen O’Connell’s barn is currently being tested for illness; she also has horses based at Gulfstream Park. This transportation restriction may affect trainer Gerald Bennett’s plans to bring his mare Crafty Prospector to the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks race, where she was considered a strong contender.
(This article was originally published on December 11, 2025, by the Paulick Report in the Horse Care section.)
Fan Take: This news is crucial for horse racing enthusiasts because an outbreak of equine herpes virus can significantly disrupt racing schedules and threaten horse health across stables. Vigilant monitoring and swift quarantine measures like these are vital to protecting the sport’s future and ensuring the wellbeing of its equine athletes.
