PHOENIX -- Horses at Turf Paradise racetrack remained under quarantine Friday as officials worked to get the upper hand on an equine herpes outbreak that has infected more than a dozen horses in New Mexico.
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs announced Thursday it would not be accepting any horses from Arizona or New Mexico because of the virus.
One horse had to be euthanized this week at Turf Paradise in north Phoenix, Manager Vincent Francia said. The horse was one of three that arrived Jan. 20 from Sunland Park, N.M.
The three horses were tested when Turf Paradise learned horses in Sunland Park outside El Paso were testing positive for the virus. Francia said a nasal swab came back negative for all three and the animals seemed fine. Then one, a mare, was suddenly unable to stand Wednesday. She eventually had to be put down.
The horse's body was sent to a lab in Tucson for testing. Though the results won't be available for a week, Turf Paradise staff immediately enacted measures to disinfect anything that comes in contact with the horses.
Turf Paradise will continue to hold races as scheduled. But no horses will be allowed to leave or enter the facility for the duration of the quarantine.
Francia said Turf Paradise will likely not accept horses from New Mexico for the foreseeable future.
"It's not because we're trying to be tough with New Mexico," Francia said. "But the situation there on a daily basis keeps getting worse."
Racing at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino has been suspended since Jan. 22 because of the outbreak. So far, 26 horses, from 17 barns, have tested positive for the equine virus, according to an update late Thursday from the New Mexico Livestock Board.
Sports on 01/30/2016