Horse tests positive for Equine Herpes Virus at Ruidoso Downs Race Track

A racehorse at Ruidoso Downs Race Track tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus Friday.

Officials at the race track say the horse was euthanized and its remains were disposed of off the track.

The New Mexico Livestock Board and the New Mexico Racing Commission are now working with officials at Ruidoso Downs Race Track to ensure no other horses are affected.

The barn where the horse was located at the race track is under quarantine – no horses in, no horses out. An adjoining barn is under quarantine, pending test results. In addition to the barn quarantine, human foot traffic to and from that barn is being strongly discouraged.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), specifically the neurotropic form of EHV-1, can cause severe neurological problems in horses. According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, EHV-1 is contagious and spread through contact: either directly from horse to horse, or indirectly between horses via their human handlers, feed and water buckets, grooming gear, riding tack and trailers.

Officials are working with horsemen and women to implement other biosecurity measures, including cleaning and disinfecting any surfaces or items horses have or may come into contact with; wearing plastic boot covers, gloves, and other disposable personal protective equipment and sanitizing footwear and clothing with Lysol or a similar disinfectant spray.

Horsemen and women with animals in the quarantined barn are being asked to take the temperature of their animals twice a day – once in the morning, and again in the evening – in order to identify any horses with fever. Fever is a primary indicator of EHV-1.

“Because the virus was found in just one horse in one barn, right now there is no reason to discontinue racing at Ruidoso Downs,” said Shaun Hubbard, general manager of Ruidoso Downs Race Track. “All I can say is sanitize, sanitize, sanitize and disinfect, disinfect, disinfect. All biosecurity measures must be in place and enacted.”

“With everyone’s help and cooperation, I feel adamant we will continue to have a successful meet,” Hubbard added.

More than 70 horses at Sunland Park Racetrack tested positive for the virus, dozens were put in isolation after an outbreak earlier this year. Racing was delayed as track managers tried to keep the virus from spreading. There’s no word yet on whether the outbreak at Ruidoso Downs is tied in any way to the outbreak at Sunland Park.

The Ruidoso Downs’ racing season runs through Labor Day.