Grand Island's Fonner Park Will Drop Horse Quarantine Friday

March 31, 2022, 4 p.m. ·

Fonner Park's grandstands
There have been no reported cases of equine herpes in the stables since mid-March. (Photo by William Padmore, Nebraska Public Media News)

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Grand Island’s Fonner Park will drop the horse quarantine for its stable area starting Friday, the racetrack announced.

Two horses were euthanized, and Fonner Park officials confirmed two more cases of equine herpes in mid-March. That led the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to issue the quarantine. Since then, there have been no reported cases in the stables at the popular central Nebraska racetrack, according to the racetrack's press release.

Some horses in another barn are still testing positive, however, so a quarantine remains in place for the barn. CEO Chris Kotulak credits a medical treatment from Arizona-based Anicell Biotech for helping curb the disease's spread.

Kotulk said in a statement that he’s happy to see most of the horses, trainers and owners get back to normal.