Racing hope for Yarra

FEARS that an outbreak of equine influenza could spread to local clubs intensified over the weekend as Racing Victoria moved to create an immediate ban on any race meetings.
While the outbreak has so far centred on New South Wales, it has affected hundreds of horses within a couple of days.
While there has been no reported outbreaks in Victoria, racing authorities have placed a 72 hour Horse Standstill Order on clubs as a preventative measure.
Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) CEO Stephen Allanson said the aim of the ban was to build a containment line around Victoria to enable the resumption of training at venues as soon as possible.
“In the meantime all movement of horses is prohibited,” Mr Allanson said.
“No horse can be floated or led to or from a stable or property into a public thoroughfare until further notice.”
But Yarra Valley Racing Marketing manager Brian Moyle said he expected the ban to be lifted within days and that they hoped to resume regular race meetings later this week.
“There’s been no outbreaks in Victoria yet so there is no real need to worry at this stage,” Mr Moyle said.
“We are just following instructions from Racing Victoria and waiting to hear when the ban will be lifted.”
The Brumby Government is also confident it can manage the outbreak having already established an operational plan back in 2002.
The plan, known as Horse Alert Victoria, has the slogan ‘Look, Check, Ask a Vet’, and sets out criteria for owners to identify and report any concerns.
But Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe said the Government should be doing more to warn horse owners of the risks.
“The Brumby State Government’s lack of action in informing horse owners over what to do during the horse flu crisis is appalling,” Ms Fyffe said.
“There should have been full page advertisements in the media and radio announcements alerting all owners to stop moving horse stock around and to quarantine all equipment and floats.”