Paradise for punters as racing returns

'We're all really thrilled and we hope it's the beginning of a recovery.' John Messara, Arrowfield Stud
IT WAS a great day for the race. The human race, that is. Yesterday's return to racing at Randwick was a day to remember for all those affected by the equine influenza epidemic - from breeders to punters.
Three months and 100,000 doses of vaccine ago, a week before the Sydney spring carnival was due to start, the outbreak of EI stopped NSW's $4.2 billion racing industry in its tracks.
At its peak 41,000 horses were infected. The financial cost is still being calculated. It is estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars, and the toll on hearts and minds may never be known.
Yesterday, however, all that could be forgotten for a while. With colour in the stands, rumble in the ring and thunder on the track, racing was back, and no one was going to let a little rain and mud spoil the party.
"It's a major morale boost for the industry," Racing NSW boss Peter V'Landys said.
"A lot of people have been devastated by EI. They've had their lives turned upside down.
"There are 50,000 people in NSW who earn their living directly or indirectly from racing.
"It's also had an effect on people attending race meetings.
"When you change people's habits it's very hard to change them back again, so our objective in the next 12 months is to get people to see how vibrant and exciting a sport racing is.
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