RACE: NSW racing shut down indefinitely as horse flu spreads

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2007
RACE: NSW racing shut down indefinitely as horse flu spreads

The New South Wales government has slapped an indefinite ban on race meetings and the
movement of horses in the state .. as the horse flu outbreak continues to spread.

Primary Industries Minister IAN MACDONALD says more than 400 horses on 53 properties
are now showing symptoms of the virus .. with 51 horses confirmed as carrying the disease.

The racing industry is bracing for a complete shutdown .. as it waits on results of
tests carried out early today on three racehorses at Randwick displaying elevated temperatures.

If the tests are positive .. it'll be almost impossible to prevent the disease spreading
through one of the nation's premier racecourses and training centres.

Mr MACDONALD says that would mean it's a virtual certainty there'd be no races at Randwick
for a month.

He says more than 700 horses are at Randwick .. and represent the cream of racing in NSW.

Mr MACDONALD says the suspension of all race meetings and the movement of horses will
be reviewed next Monday .. September 3.

He says an inter-departmental task force has been set up to assist people with leisure
horses stranded on properties in NSW.

AAP RTV TURF cw/jc/tm/bart

KEYWORD: STALLIONS NSW (SYDNEY)

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