Flu virus 'imported'

2003-12-18 20:59

Cape Town - The second biggest racehorse centre in the Western Cape has been hit by equine flu, SABC TV news reported on Thursday.

The centre at Philippi, which stables over 400 horses, has been placed under full quarantine.

Trainer Chris Snaith said he believed the virus had been brought in from abroad. He said the first case occurred four to five days after the arrival of a plane-load of horses from the USA and Europe.

Horse-racing in South Africa has been thrown into disarray following an outbreak of horse flu, first detected at the Milnerton training centre.

A racing ban is in place in the Western Cape, Gauteng and the Free State, but KwaZulu-Natal is not yet affected.

J&B Met

A decision will be made on Monday on whether the J&B Met at Kenilworth in Cape Town - one of the country's premier horse-racing events - will go ahead in January.

Regional manager of Gold Circle racing Brian Berrill said on Thursday: "The regional board of directors meet on Monday in Cape Town to properly assess reports of veterinary surgeons regarding the inoculation and monitoring of sick horses."

Berrill said there had been a lot of conjecture as to the possible postponement of the Met, which carried a total purse of R1.5m.

He said Monday's meeting would decide on when racing could continue in the region, and once a decision was made discussions would be held with all affected major sponsors of horse racing in the Western Cape.

"The board will have to acknowledge the vets' decisions... It could be a day, a week or 10 years," said Berrill.

Berrill said the Cape season started in December and ended in February, carrying about R17m worth of stakes for disbursement.

- SAPA