Two cases of equine herpesvirus found in Texas, 72 at Sunland Park

Two horses in Texas owned by a trainer based at Sunland Park in New Mexico have tested positive for the equine herpesvirus, according to horse health agencies, while the number of horses testing positive for the disease at Sunland has risen to 72.

The horses in Texas have been isolated, and the positives have been reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center. The positives are the first reported in Texas for the highly contagious disease, which has spread rapidly at Sunland Park and led to a quarantine and a shutdown of racing at the track.

Sunland Park also reported on Thursday that two horses have been released from isolation at the track and that 17 barns have been returned to nonexposed status. Ten barns are still listed as exposed.

Sunland officials told the New Mexico Racing Commission on Wednesday that they hoped to resume live racing later this month. The track has not run a live card since Jan. 22, and no horses have been allowed to ship in or ship out of the track since live racing was canceled and the track placed under quarantine.