Reuters News Agency is reporting today that more than 130 horses have become ill with a virus believed to be Equine Herpes at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. The racetrack is to be the site of the 2008 Olympics Equestrian Events.

According to a story in the Guardian, a leading newspaper in England, all the horses had been previously vaccinated against herpes, so their symptoms were relatively mild and consisted mainly of fever. The outbreak is not considered to be life-threatening.

Hong Kong champion Vengence of Rain, winner of one of the major races at the Dubai World Cup last weekend, had just returned to Sha Tin to a hero’s welcome.