Hoosier Park Racing and Casino received test results back from horses quarantined on the backstretch for Streptococcus equi (equine strangles).
All tests have been returned as negative for the infection in these horses.
Late Tuesday afternoon September 22, a horse in the quarantined barn was found dead in its stall. The horse was immediately transported to Purdue University Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for post-mortem examination. Preliminary findings were returned Wednesday afternoon, September 23, showing that the quarantined horse died of colitis, an inflammation of the colon. There are no preliminary indications that the death of the horse was linked in any way to equine strangles.
Fifty-six horses remain quarantined in one of the track’s 16 barns until appropriate testing and time lines approved by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) have been completed. A second test sample will be collected from each horse remaining in quarantine Thursday, October 1, two weeks from the first sample. If the second sample comes back with negative results, the quarantine is expected to be lifted. The results from the second test are expected Tuesday, October 6.
All other horses stabled on the backstretch are not under quarantine. The backstretch, which consists of 1,032 stalls, is fully operational and no disruption to business has been experienced. Special restricted training time for quarantined horses has been approved by the BOAH. Several additional biosecurity procedures relating to the track surface and training area will be implemented and strictly enforced.
Hoosier Park officials continue to follow stringent biosecurity procedures approved by the BOAH. Some of the biosecurity procedures in place include the disinfection of the paddock and saddling area following each race, all starting gate assistants are wearing disposable gloves, which are changed out after each start, the starting gate is completely disinfected following each start, and all pony riders and outriders are cleaning and sanitizing all areas of their tack and pony horses where contact has been made with each horse at the conclusion of each race. An entire list of biosecurity procedures is available through the public relations department upon request.
(Hoosier Park)