By Caryl Williamson and Mike Hedge
August 26, 2007 07:52pm
Article from: AAP

"THE equine influenza (EI) outbreak, which has shut down the multibillion-dollar Australian racing industry, has spread from NSW to Queensland but Victorian authorities are confident the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival will not be affected.

Although no racehorse has tested positive to EI, race meetings across the country were cancelled yesterday and a 72-hour order against the movement of horses was put in force, with that order is due to expire on Tuesday afternoon....

As the implications of the outbreak were assessed state by state, a difference of opinion has emerged between Victorian authorities and Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran.

Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) said it was confident horses will be back on the track in that state by the weekend, if not sooner.

But Mr McGauran said a miracle was needed if racing was to resume before next Saturday. "If we're racing next Saturday, then we should all breathe a sigh of relief," Mr McGauran said.

"If there's any racing in Australia before then, it will be a minor miracle."

Full article at http://www.news.com.au/story/0,2359...8-29277,00.html