Remington Sets EHV-I Policy for Thoroughbreds

Remington Park will be following and enforcing a health policy to safeguard horses participating at Oklahoma racetracks in the wake of the quarantine lifted on the latest isolated case of equine herpesvirus at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

The policy has been adopted jointly by Will Rogers Downs, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association. Remington will open its backstretch July 11 for its upcoming Thoroughbred meet Aug. 12.

Until further notice, no horses will be admitted into the enclosure of an Oklahoma licensed racetrack if they are coming from any quarantined racetrack or surrounding counties of such a facility, or if they are arriving from a county or adjacent county to where a quarantine has been implemented. 

The following criteria is required to enter and operate within the enclosure:

—A current health certificate issued within 30 days prior to arrival at the track which shows the vaccination record for each horse. The horse must have been vaccinated with an FDA approved modified live or killed virus vaccine for EHV-1 not less than 14 days and not more than 90 days prior to date of entry. The veterinarian must provide the date of vaccination, the brand, serial number, and the expiration date of vaccine.

—Horsemen must keep every horse admitted to, or in the enclosure, on a current 90 day FDA approved EHV-1 vaccine or EHV-1 booster schedule until further notice. Evidence of a booster vaccine will be required prior to any horse reaching that 90 day deadline.

Any individual that is found to be responsible for a horse entering the enclosure of a racetrack that does not conform to these conditions will be ejected from the grounds and will not be allowed to participate in the race meet.

All trainers and horse haulers are urged to take extreme caution when transporting horses by properly disinfecting and sanitizing their trailers if there is any chance they may have transported an exposed horse.

Matt Vance, vice president of operations at Remington Park, stressed the importance for all participants in horse racing in Oklahoma, to adhere to this adopted health and safety policy.

"The health and safety of all our equine participants is our primary goal here at Remington Park," Vance said in a release. "In joining with Fair Meadows, Will Rogers Downs, and all Oklahoma racetracks, we will always do everything possible to protect the health of the horses at our facilities. After working with all track management in Oklahoma, the OQHRA, the TRAO, and the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, we believe this plan is the best preventative measure to prevent the spread of the EHV-1 virus."