Aussie Racing Braced For The Worst

The breakout of equine influenza in Australia could cost the racing industry as much as 1billion, early estimates have predicted.

Racing has been abandoned for 72 hours Down Under after 11 horses tested positive for a strain of equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Park Stables in Sydney, New South Wales.

All movement of horses during that period has also been banned in an attempt to reduce the risk of the virus spreading any further.

EI is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads rapidly and can also be passed by humans although they will show no effects of the disease.

It is thought that the cancellation of the action this weekend will cost the industry over 1million in lost revenue and if the ban stretches in to weeks, rather than days, the financial implications do not bear thinking about, according to Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys.

'If the ban continues for a month 1 billion in betting will be lost in NSW alone,' said V'Landys.

'The longer it goes the more devastating it is. The industry will also lose out on 1.2 million in prize money. And I stress that is only for the first 72 hours.'

Punters were expected to invest almost 10 million on Saturday's abandoned Warwick Stakes meeting at Randwick.

'As you can see the industry will struggle to remain viable if the situation remains ongoing for an indefinite period,' he told racenet.com.au.

South African trainer David Payne, who now trains in Australia, has first hand experience of the virus having suffered when EI swept through his own Cape Town stables in the late 1980's when racing was cancelled for five months.

'It's like living on the edge,' Payne said.

'I had 60 horses in work at Cape Town and they were all hit with it within 24 hours. It was rampant.

'Racing in South Africa was at a standstill for three months,' he said.

'Horses get very, very sick. It really knocks them around.

'For two to three weeks after the virus hits all you can do is hand lead them because they are too weak to do anything else.'

However Payne, who trains at Randwick, not far from the original outbreak at Centennial Park, reported that as yet his string have shown no signs of the virus.

'At this stage all of my horses are fine but it's a matter of sitting and waiting,' he said.

'But because there is so much movement of horses and the people handling them you never know.'

The breeding industry will also feel the full force as its season was just about to get in to full swing following the arrival of leading Coolmore sires Rock Of Gibraltar, Choisir, Danehill Dancer and Holy Roman Emperor.

The imported stallions were set to serve around 30,000 mares and their unavailability means the industry is facing its biggest ever threat.

(C) PA Sport