Horse racing fears come true

2003-12-16 21:54

Elsabe Brits

Cape Town - The horse racing industry's worst fears have been realised after equine (horse) flu was recorded outside the quarantined areas - at the Philippi training grounds and in Johannesburg.

Dr Vere Allin, a veterinarian surgeon, said on Tuesday that six out of about 500 horses at the Philippi centre had taken ill. This virus is highly contagious.

"This is bad news. The situation is very serious. It was hoped the virus could be contained at the Milnerton centre but now it could spell financial disaster for many people," he said.

Last Wednesday, a massive immunisation programme was carried out at the Philippi centre and it was hoped that the horses' immune systems were strong enough to ward off the virus.

It is understood that about 12 horses at Milnerton are seriously ill and could in fact die. Allin said that some horses with the virus might never recover enough to reach their previous performance levels.

Meanwhile, races at Turffontein in Johannesburg were cancelled on Tuesday after 22 horses housed at a training centre in Randjiesfontein were diagnosed with the virus on Monday.

Tony Barnes, executive head of the Jockey Club of South Africa, said on Tuesday these horses had been removed from the training grounds in a bid to contain the virus.

The stalls were then disinfected, he said adding that "it was a shot in the dark".

A few hundred horses are kept at this training facility, which has now been placed under quarantine.

The virus was first detected on December 9 at Milnerton.

Since then horses in Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Vaal Triangle have been inoculated against the virus.

Despite the spread of the virus, experts are confident that the crisis will be over before the J&B Met on January 31. They are however, worried that the horses might not be fit enough in time to run.

Mike Greeff, Eastern Cape racing manager, said about 150 horses at the Arlington and Fairview race courses in Port Elizabeth had contracted the virus.

He said however, that many of these horses appeared to be recovering.

Although both racecourses are still under quarantine, race organisers hope to be able to resume races on December 30 in Port Elizabeth.

- Die Burger