With stabling set to open at Gulfstream Park and the Palm Meadows training facility in November, Magna Entertainment Corp. has adopted the following standards in its effort to curb the spread of contagious equine disease.

The policy states that all horses shipping into stable at Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows for upcoming race meet be accompanied with a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, signed and dated by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of arrival, and that each horse must be vaccinated against Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1) between 14 and 90 days prior to arrival.

Also, the veterinarian must sign the following statement: “The horse listed on this Certificate of Veterinary Inspection has not originated from, nor been stabled on, a premises which has had herpes virus (EHV-1) diagnosed during the previous 30 days.”                                                                                                  

Palm Meadows opens for stabling Nov. 1; Gulfstream Park opens Nov. 13.           

The Gulfstream Park meeting opens Jan. 3 and concludes April 22.                                                                                     

Horses who ship to either Gulfstream Park or Palm Meadows in November or December are not required to produce a CVI in order to race at Calder.                                                                                    

The policy mirrors the policy implemented at Calder Race Course.                                                 

Dr. Mary Scollay, association veterinarian for Gulfstream and Calder, said: “In recognition that the risk of spread of infectious disease is increased within a mobile population, we are taking this precaution.  These measures are intended to protect the health of horses currently in Florida as well as those shipping south for the winter.”