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3-11-2008

CHARLES TOWN TRACK EVENTS SUSPENDED AS OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE SICK HORSE

A horse barn at the Charles Town racetrack was placed under quarantine Monday after a local veterinarian reported he was treating a four-year-old filly for neurological symptoms of an unknown origin. Races and training have also been suspended through Thursday evening, pending test results on the sick horse.

"Because we are unsure of what we're dealing with at this particular time, the Department's state veterinarian, the Charles Town track veterinarian and the racing steward have agreed it would be best to quarantine the barn and suspend events at the track until we can determine what this horse is suffering from," said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass.

Test results should be complete later in the week, according to State Veterinarian Joe Starcher.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.

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