By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

FLORENCE - Just days before the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes, a Kentucky Derby prep race, 80 horses have been quarantined for three weeks in a barn at Turfway Park, after three horses were diagnosed with Equine Herpes Virus Type 1.

The virus is the same infection that killed 14 horses at the University of Findlay (Ohio) equestrian complex in January.

"The virus is quite common in the horse population, but Kentucky has historically been relatively free of this neurological form of the disease," said Dr. David Powell of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky.

"We're not aware of a tie between Turfway and Ohio, but we are monitoring the situation," Powell said.

Powell said he hadn't seen a case of this type of EHV-1 neurological syndrome in Kentucky since he arrived in 1985.

The Lane's End Stakes will be run on Saturday despite the quarantine, officials said.

The track has implemented an Equine Infectious Disease Action Plan developed by the Gluck Center and is working with the state veterinarian's office on anti-infection protocols.

All other racing will continue as scheduled.

Rusty Ford, equine program manager at the state Veterinary Office, said Turfway Park has handled the situation well.

All three horses have been treated and are responding favorably to the medication, according to Turfway Park President Bob Elliston.

"The EHV-1 neurological syndrome virus is not passable from horses to humans or other animals.