Quarantine lifted at Ruidoso Downs

The quarantine of a Ruidoso Downs barn that had housed a Quarter Horse who tested positive for the equine herpesvirus has been lifted, according to the New Mexico Livestock Board. The horse was confirmed positive on June 17. There were no additional positives during the 14-day quarantine period, according to a notice from the New Mexico Livestock Board.

Ruidoso has been able to race as scheduled during the quarantine. It is conducting a mixed meet for Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Earlier this year, a rash of equine herpesvirus positives forced the temporary shutdown of racing at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

The horse at Ruidoso who tested positive was euthanized, according to the track. Shaun Hubbard, president of Ruidoso, said last week he was hopeful the case was an isolated one in part because the horse was being treated for pneumonia and that stress to the horse’s system could have left the animal more vulnerable to the onset of further illness, like the equine herpesvirus.

The quarantine was on Barn 27, and horses housed there were restricted to walking the shed row.

Ruidoso is the second track this week to have a quarantine lifted. Arapahoe Park’s stable area had been on lockdown after a horse tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia. The horse was euthanized, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.