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Equine

Austin, Texas -- What is reported to be the nation's first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 was detected in a horse in Starr County, one of Texas' southernmost counties.

Lakewood, Colo. -- The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) released a 12-page consensus statement on equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) as a guide to veterinarians in managing the disease.

Lexington, Ky. -- The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) is offering incentives for stallion castration in an effort to address the neglected horse issue in the state.

Elmont, N.Y. -- Mine That Bird, this year's Kentucky Derby winner co-owned by a veterinarian, finished third in Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes, the final race in the 2009 Triple Crown.

Washington -- The American Horse Council (AHC) is putting together what it believes will be "the most inclusive presentation on safety and welfare ever assembled" June 16 at its annual National Issues Forum, focusing on "Welfare of the Horse."

Lexington, Ky. -- A racetrack veterinarian recently suspended for five years for medication violations, including possession of cobra venom, filed suit against the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to have the suspension overturned, claiming that it was "not supported by substantial evidence, is arbitrary and/or an abuse of discretion."

Louisville, Ky. -- A burglar stole the registration papers for Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird from his trainer's truck overnight Tuesday, but officials at Churchill Downs replaced them by afternoon, ensuring that the horse can compete in Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes.

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Veterinarian's horse beats 50-1 odds to win this year's Kentucky Derby - then nearly repeats the performance at the Preakness.

Davis, Calif. -- This week the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine opened its new stem-cell therapy laboratory.

Roseland, N.J. -- A veterinary program launched four months ago to provide vaccines for unwanted horses through equine rescue and retirement facilities so far has helped more than 1,400 horses nationwide, organizers report.

Lexington, Ky. -- The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) this week upheld the five-year suspension of a track veterinarian accused of possessing banned medications, including cobra venom.

Stillwater, Okla. -- The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Science's Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has partnered with a sports flooring company to develop a new flooring type for horses.

National Report -- The latest update on the nationwide outbreak of contagious equine metritis (CEM) that began about five months ago shows 18 stallions in six states and five mares in three states so far confirmed CEM-positive by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Plum Island, N.Y. -- The risk of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) and bluetongue virus (BT) entering the United States is considered low, but the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is rewriting the nation's emergency response plans, saying pathways do exist for them to enter the country.

Orono, Maine -- A laboratory that will test various racetrack surfaces and possible effect on the safety of horses will begin operation soon, financed by a consortium of racing interests.