Procedures in place

Following an outbreak of equine herpes virus in the New Jersey Thoroughhbred population, stricter health documents will be required to race at the Meadowlands, including a negative Coggins test; a 48-hour health certificate with each horse’s temperature clearly written; and proof of EHV-1 vaccination no less than seven days and no more than 90 days prior for each horse.

“There will be no exceptions to these requirements,” said Chris McErlean, vice president for racing operations at the Meadowlands. “I know these may be seen as an inconvenience to horsemen, but we want to ensure the health and safety of all participants at the Meadowlands.”

Also, three barns at the Meadowlands--(three, four and five and the New Jersey Racing Commission [NJRC] testing barn) will be stripped, thoroughly power washed and disinfected, using solution approved by the New Jersey Racing Commission and New Jersey Department of Agriculture " twice over" before the incoming horses are permitted into those areas for the upcoming Standardbred meet at the Big M, which is set to open Nov. 17.

"We have reviewed all of these procedures and plans with the New Jersey Racing Commission veterinarians as well as the Department of Agriculture and several prominent local veterinarians, and they have indicated they are satisfied with our efforts,” said Chris McErlean, vice president of racing operations. “We are taking every precaution in these areas in advance of our standardbred meet.

“We fully understand the ramifications of this disease and how it spreads and how it can devastate a racing program,” McErlean added. “We want to make sure our horsemen know we are proactive in this case, and that they should have no concerns coming in to stable or race at the Meadowlands."

The Meadowlands was not used for stabling during the thoroughbred meet. All horses were shipped in to race. The Back Paddock was under renovation and the areas that the thoroughbred horses had access to were very limited. In addition to the steps taken by the Meadowlands, stricter requirements will be imposed on horses arriving at the Meadowlands for the upcoming meet. (NJSEA press release)

« Back