Hokkaido Horse Races Canceled for Third Straight Week as Equine Influenza Spreads

May 06, 2025 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, May 06, 2025 (News On Japan) - Horse races at the Banei Racecourse in Obihiro, Hokkaido, have been canceled for the third consecutive week due to a widespread outbreak of equine influenza among racehorses.

The latest cancellation affects races scheduled to be held over three days from May 10th. This follows the initial suspension on April 25th after infections were confirmed in three horses.

According to the city of Obihiro, by May 3rd, symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, and fever had been observed in approximately 400 of the roughly 700 horses housed at the stables.

The number of newly symptomatic horses per day peaked at around 80 on April 28th and has since been on a declining trend. City officials said they will continue monitoring the situation and determine when to resume racing based on the status of the outbreak.

Source: Hokkaido News UHB

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