Flu scare at Victorian racetrack
 

Flu scare at Vic racetrack
August 29, 2007 - 11:42AM

A country Victoria racecourse is in lockdown down after a horse showed signs of equine influenza (EI).

The horse, stabled at Hamilton racecourse in western Victoria, yesterday showed symptoms of the illness, which has brought the multi-billion dollar horse industry to a standstill.

Until now, Victoria had been unaffected by EI, which has been confirmed only in NSW and Queensland.

Samples from the animal at Hamilton have been sent to Melbourne for testing.

Full article at http://www.theage.com.au/news/horse...8067159013.html

Just what we need. Let's hope it's nothing......

Umm. The headline reads

"Victorian horse cleared of flu" :confused:

Guess they changed their mind.

A new scare in Vic
 

this, if confirmed, will no doubt mean the Horse Standstill Order wont be lifted at 1pm tomorrow in Vic.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/natio...8067237976.html

NSW racing gone for at least 2mths. What odds a meeting in Vic. on Sat.?

The horse flu crisis in New South Wales has worsened with eight thoroughbreds at a stable at Randwick Racecourse testing positive to the virus.

Randwick will be shut down for at least two months, with all 700 horses there expected to contract the virus. The closure throws the Sydney Spring Carnival into chaos.

A property at Kaarimba, in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, has been quarantined while horses are tested for flu. Up to 60 horses are in quarantine. The owners say the horses competed in Tatura, near Shepparton, on the weekend where horses from NSW competed who had illegally crossed the border and may have passed through infected areas.

It'll go ahead in VIC regardless I think. Would be quite easy to track any subsequent movements from that one property.

If there are any positive results in Vic. Saturday's meeting will be off. It's not just the horses that spread the virus but it gets on handlers clothing, vehicles, equipment and tack etc. which isn't so easy to track. 670 horses interstate have confirmed doses of the Flu so far.

Anyway, here's hoping for the all clear!

Fingers crossed for 1 pm tomorrow.


Its good to see Vic outlining extensive protocols though, NSW jockeys & trainers are banned from attening Vic racetracks for the time being.

Im out of work for possiblly the next 3 months, however :(