On October 7, 2015, the WHRC Equine Medical Director Tricia Arnold sent out a letter to all horsemen advising them of a recently confirmed case of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) involving a horse at Emerald Downs. The horse was deemed positive through both ELISA and AGID Coggin's testing. Ultimately the horse had to be euthanized. Since October 7, 2015, there have been another 12 horses that have tested positive and they have also been euthanized. So far all the infected horses belong to the same stable.

  Dr. Arnold's letter states, "It is highly unlikely that this disease was transmitted between horses at Emerald Downs." It further states, "The infectious agent causing EIA may take up to 60 days to become detectable after infection." Therefore, she recommends that all horses that were stabled at Emerald Downs have a Coggins test done after December 1, 2015.

 

  Emerald Downs is now making it mandatory that every horse coming onto the grounds have a current (December 1, 2015, and after) negative Coggins test. Stable security will collect the Coggins test paperwork on each horse as the horses arrive at the gates. Each horse will be identified by Emerald Downs stable superintendent Vern Baze or a WHRC identifier.

  The negative Coggins test paperwork will then go into each trainers file in the race office to be attached to the horses' registration papers.

  Horses arriving at the stable gates without a Coggins test dated after December 1, 2015, will be quarantined in the portable stalls until such time that blood can be pulled and a negative Coggins result can be achieved. Once the negative results are determined the quarantined horses can then join the resident population in the trainers' assigned stalls. Emerald Downs also suggests that each horse should be current with their rhino and flu vaccinations.

  Please be prepared to provide negative Coggins for each horse coming on Emerald Downs grounds.