Blow for Perth Summer Carnival

PERTH - Eastern state horses including Divine Madonna and Apache Cat have been effectively banned from this year's Perth summer carnival.
Perth racing officials have been thwarted in their attempt to bring east coast stars over for the summer carnival due to equine influenza concerns despite introducing isolation facilities.

"Despite the best horses in Australia wishing to race in Perth, the EI protocols put in place by the Dept of Agriculture, has meant that neither Toodyay or Belmont will be able to be used as Isolation Centres," Perth Racing said in a statement.
"A militant group in Toodyay have threatened to disrupt the isolation protocol ... in that event, the horses in isolation may be compromised and need to continue isolation over a protracted period.
"It is not appropriate for Perth Racing to compromise such top horses and trainers," the statement said.
Perth Racing officials also put forward Belmont as a previously accredited isolation centre that was ideally suited but that has also been ruled out due to "determined resistance and disruption from a number of parties".
Perth Racing CEO Alasdair Robertson said the Department of Agriculture's policies were "bizarre".
Up to 25 interstate horses were expected at the carnival.
Trainers such as David Hayes were prepared to serve the quarantine with their horses but, without suitable facilities for horses in training, that is now not an option.
To highlight the farce, jockey William Pike rode at Moonee Valley on Saturday and at Northam in WA on Sunday day without any restrictions.
From the www.turfmonthly.com.au website.