Horse tests positive for EIA near Ruidoso Downs

Ruidoso Downs officials have seen no evidence that a horse who tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia at a nearby farm has spread the disease to horses at the New Mexico track. Ruidoso General Manager Rick Baugh said the New Mexico Livestock Board informed track officials about the horse on Monday. Baugh said he wished the board had acted sooner because horsemen and track officials had heard about the infected horse several days before the information was passed along. “We have received back tests on the six horses stabled closest to the infected horse and all of the tests are negative,” Baugh said. Every horse at the track will receive the Coggins test, which is used to detect EIA, sometimes referred to as swamp fever. Horse flies and other insects spread the viral disease, which has no vaccine or cure. Acute infection causes fever, depression, and loss of appetite. Ruidoso, which offers Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing, is looking forward to its biggest weekend of the year, capped by the All American Futurity for Quarter Horses on Monday. “It’s something that once it was discovered, we acted fast,” Baugh said. “The last thing we wanted was to be placed under quarantine on our biggest weekend of the year.” The infected horse has been quarantined.