Horses race across the border

FOR the first time in more than 100 days, horses will today leave Sydney for Victoria, marking the beginning of the end of the equine influenza crisis that has crippled the racing industry.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries yesterday confirmed it had given approval for the movement of horses across the Murray River into flu-free Victoria.
Each of the horses being moved to Victoria today has built up full immunity to EI after contracting the disease. "Today marks another milestone in our battle against EI and effort to get the state's horse industries back on their feet," said NSW Minister for Primary Industries Ian McDonald. "This is the first legal movement of horses into Victoria since the outbreak and more will follow, not only thoroughbreds but horses from other equine disciplines."
The first horses allowed to cross the border into Victoria include 30 racehorses belonging to Bob Ingham's Woodland Stud/Crown Lodge.
A further 36 yearlings belonging to other stud farms will be transported from a William Inglis & Son quarantine facility in Sydney's Randwick to another quarantine facility in Oaklands, Victoria.
The horses moving today are among hundreds being prepared by Hunter Valley breeders for the Victorian Premier Sale, which attracts international buyers and generates tens of millions of dollars for Australian breeders.

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