Racing resumes at Sunland Park Racetrack following virus outbreak

Horses will finally be hitting the track again at Sunland Park, more than a month after an equine herpes outbreak brought racing to halt, while track managers and others scrambled to keep the virus from spreading.

Despite a continued quarantine, the track has the blessing of the New Mexico Racing Commission to resume racing Friday. Nearly 100 trainers have signed up to fill the race cards.

Thursday, another horse tested positive with the virus. The horse’s owner, David Wolochcuk, is frustrated with the virus and says he will be happy when it’s completely gone.

More than 70 horses tested positive for the EHV-1 virus since late January, and 30 of those horses are in isolation.

Until those 30 horses are released from isolation, Sunland Park will remain under quarantine.

The combined purse total for the first weekend back for the racetrack will be $1.3 million, which is about $300,000 in prize payouts a day.

Evan Folan reports