Louisiana Horsemen Assess Storm Damage

Louisiana horsemen were spending the morning of Aug. 27 checking in on one another and assessing any damage after Hurricane Laura battered the state's coastline overnight.

Karl Broberg, who has finished as the leading trainer by wins in North America multiple times, said his farm near Delta Downs in Vinton, La., sustained heavy damage but no workers or horses were injured. He said there was significant flooding, but the turned-out horses were fine on higher ground.

"It's draining pretty fast, but there's still about a foot of water on some parts of the property," Broberg said. "There's extensive damage, but all things considered, we're alright. It just seems that we're seeing more and more of these powerful hurricanes."

According to multiple news outlets, the hurricane was listed as a Category 4 storm as it reached landfall near Lake Charles, La., and as of 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27 a number of news sites said the storm was still at Category 2 level as it traveled inland.

Keith Kleine, the director of industry relations for the American Association of Equine Practitioners, was in communication with horsemen, veterinarians, and tracks in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana. He said reports were just beginning to come in Thursday morning from the region, where he said half a million people are without power.

"It is still very early," Kleine said. "I know some horses and animals were evacuated to various locations, including to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. I know the Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team has been deployed to Jefferson County, Texas, and is in route now to do the assessment, consider additional shelter needs, etc."

In the early afternoon Thursday, Kleine said early reports from both Texas and Louisiana were better than expected.

The Thoroughbred track most directly in the path of the hurricane, Delta Downs, is not currently conducting racing. Track spokesman Don Stevens said Thursday morning that based on a photo (above) posted to social media, it appears that the track's toteboard was destroyed but that the barns were still standing.

"A full assessment hasn't been made yet, but (director of racing Chris Warren) said the property received damage but in his estimation it could have been worse—tote board ruined, some rail damage, some fences down. Starting gates flipped. Still assessing," Stevens later updated on Twitter.

Located about 20 miles southwest of Lake Charles, Delta Downs closed its casino and grounds at 1 p.m. Aug. 25 and encouraged patrons to monitor its social media platforms to see when facilities would reopen. The track in Vinton concluded a Quarter Horse meet Aug. 22.

Two state tracks are currently conducting Thoroughbred racing. Evangeline Downs, located about 90 miles east of Lake Charles in Opelousas, La., canceled its Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 race cards because of the expected effects of the storm. The casino also was closed, and Evangeline encouraged patrons to monitor its social media platforms for updates.

Louisiana Downs, located 190 miles north of Lake Charles, conducted its Wednesday racing card, then closed its gaming and racing facilities at 9 p.m. Aug. 26. The Louisiana Downs website said the casino and property are scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. Friday. The next regularly scheduled race day is Saturday.

As noted by Kleine, a number of horses in southeastern Texas—Thoroughbreds and other breeds—were evacuated ahead of the storm. In an effort to remove some red tape during a time of emergency, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott temporarily suspended portions of the Texas Animal Health Commission rules that require negative equine infectious anemia test results to board in the past year.

In a statement from the governor's office, it was noted that the rules were suspended to "facilitate the evacuation of equine and equine owners in advance of Hurricane Laura making landfall. This suspension is in effect until terminated by the office of the governor or until the 90th day following the suspension."

TAHC executive director Andy Schwartz praised the decision.

"Horses without current equine infectious anemia tests should not be turned away from safe shelter during this time," Schwartz said. "Facility and equine owners can mitigate the risk of disease spread by regularly treating horses with fly repellent and isolating equine without current EIA tests, to the extent possible, from other horses."

To provide immediate aid, The Foundation for the Horse is donating $5,000 total to two groups it has worked with previously: the Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association's Equine Committee. 

Veterinarians within these groups are actively helping horses that are being evacuated or which may have to endure the hurricane in place. Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is currently taking in and sheltering animals, and its emergency team will be deployed as needed to affected areas. Similar efforts are underway in Louisiana as well. 

The foundation will work with agencies and veterinary members in Texas and Louisiana to identify the needs of the equine community. Once the foundation receives an assessment of need and distribution protocols from the agencies and veterinary members in the afflicted areas, it will work to support them with monetary and other resources as needed. 

"The foundation and the equine veterinary community know the tragic loss of life and incredible destruction and flooding that can and will be caused by Hurricane Laura," said foundation advisory council chair Dr. Rick Mitchell. "We are compelled to reach out, together with our members, horse owners, and industry leaders, as part of the effort to proactively support the disaster's equine victims." 

With the arrival of Hurricane Laura, the Foundation for the Horse is asking for financial help for horses affected due to evacuations or that otherwise may be in harm's way. To make a gift to the foundation in support of disaster relief or another area benefiting equine welfare, visit foundationforthehorse.org and click the "Donate" button.