Cologne racecourse under quarantine after swamp fever detected

Cologne racecourse in Germany has been put under quarantine lock down after a case of equine infectious anaemia (EIA), also known as swamp fever, has been detected.

And German racehorse Danedream, who is based at the racecourse, will not be able to run in this weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to restrictions on movement.

The four-year-old filly was due to run in Sunday’s (7 October) race at Longchamp after winning last year.

But vets have banned her from travelling, as no horses can go in or out of the racecourse for the next three months.

EIA is a viral disease that attacks a horse’s immune system. It is passed by as flies and can cause death, as well as mares to abort.

Julien Pescatore of France Galop [the French horseracing authority] said: “There is a quarantine period of 90 days, and for that reason Danedream will not be able to run in the Arc. It is really sad that she will not be able to run, but there is nothing we can do about it.”

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