May 18, 2011
Concerns over the recent EHV-1 outbreak have prompted the Utah Quarter Horse Racing Association to postpone the races scheduled for this Saturday, May 21, at Laurel Brown Racetrack, according to The Racing Journal.
The UQHRA acted late Tuesday night on advice from the South Valley Large Animal Clinic in South Jordan, Utah, The Racing Journal reports. The track is part of a larger equestrian complex in South Jordan. “The fact that people can just haul in and out of there makes it tough,” said Dustin Hall of the Utah Quarter Horse Racing Association. “There were trainers with concerns of bringing their horses to the equestrian park and taking the chance of picking something up and hauling it back to their farms. South Valley clinic recommended that we push a week to be safe.” The UQHRA expects that the races will be postponed one week, but have not yet finalized that decision. The postponement could affect remaining dates at Laurel Brown Racetrack, currently scheduled for June 4 and June 18.
Saturday's card featured 10 races, including the $63,250 Beehive Futurity, $20,710 South Valley/Swett Ranch Futurity and Maiden Frolic Derby.
The EHV-1 outbreak is believed to have originated at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah, from April 29 through May 8, 2011. South Jordan is about an hour south of Ogden, Utah. AQHA has provided information about EHV-1 and appropriate biosecurity precautions, as well as shipping regulations for horses entering Colorado.