Equine herpes

in trainer’s yard

THE British Horseracing Authority has confirmed an outbreak of equine herpes virus (EHV) at the yard of Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland in Worcestershire. Movement restrictions have been placed on the yard to limit any future spread while further sampling is under way to determine the exact strain, which has yet to be confirmed but is thought to be EHV-1.

The most common strain of EHV is EHV-1 which causes respiratory disease, abortion in pregnant mares and neurological disease in horses of all ages and types. EHV-4 is also common, which usually only causes low-grade respiratory disease but can occasionally cause abortion.

Once horses have been infected they can carry it silently and it can reactivate later in life.

Pat Murphy passes away

PAT Murphy, father of trainer Colm and Horse Racing Ireland finance director John, has died. A well-known figure at the races and in Colm’s yard in Gorey, Co Wexford, Pat is also survived by his wife Tess and their daughters Mary-Therese and Caitriona.