New Mexico stewards suspend Heath Taylor after 21 horse deaths due to EIA

Stewards at the Downs at Albuquerque racetrack in New Mexico have summarily suspended Quarter Horse trainer Heath Taylor, whose stable has recorded 21 deaths due to infectious anemia (EIA) in recent weeks, according to Daily Racing Form.

The California Horse Racing Board confirmed that 12 of Taylor’s horses housed at Los Alamitos were euthanized, and Daily Racing Form said eight died at Lone Star Park in Texas and one in New Mexico. Taylor told the Form’s Steve Andersen that all of the horses were stabled in Albuquerque in August and early September.

The action taken Friday by stewards in Albuquerque said that if a licensee’s actions “pose an imminent threat to the public health, safety or welfare,” stewards may temporarily suspend the licensee pending a hearing. A hearing is reportedly scheduled for October 23rd.

Taylor texted Andersen saying, “I am 110 percent innocent. I’m the one who lost and is now being punished.”

Equine infectious anemia is a blood-borne disease that can be transmitted through bites from contaminated deer and horseflies; from pregnant mares to their foals in the womb or via milk; about breeding from stallion to mare; through the use of infected blood and blood products; or from contaminated equipment such as needles.

A horse with EIA may be asymptomatic, have a fever, or die suddenly. Horses chronically infected with EIA may be weak or anemic, lose weight, or have swelling in their legs, abdomen, or chest.

A Coggins test can confirm whether a horse is positive for EIA. There is no known treatment and infected horses pose a danger to all other horses. Horses that react positive to EIA can either be quarantined for life or euthanized.

There is no vaccine for EIA, so prevention relies on quality fly control and sterile equipment for injections and treatments.

A statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the EIA deaths was posted on the Equine Disease Communications Center website, saying, “Additional exposed horses have been identified and are currently being tested in multiple states. The current epidemiological investigation suggests spread of EIA in these horses occurred through iatrogenic transmission.”

Iatrogenic transmission is the “unintentional spread of diseases or problems through medical treatment or diagnostic procedures,” says Dr pubmed.gov.

Taylor, one of the leading trainers in Quarter Horse racing, ranks fourth nationally in both wins and money won in 2024, according to Equibase. He has horses registered at Los Alamitos, Lone Star Park and Evangeline Downs in the next few days. These horses are expected to get a scratch due to New Mexico’s summary ban.