Caravan of courage - the final chapter

Check out the final chapter of the 'Caravan of Courage'. The girls are safely back at work but catch up on their final leg of the trip on the Horse Deals Gallery.

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/gallery.php?showID=3511

Heath Ryan “On The Front Foot”

“I’m not qualified to do this, but I’m hurting like hell and if I don’t do it nobody is going to do it. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for someone to do it, but it just did not happen”, commented Heath concerning a document he is writing in collaboration with webmaster, Sharon Carroll relating to the necessary compensation to those involved in the Olympic FEI disciplines suffering from the EI outbreak.

“The document will try and secure funding for those people falling through the cracks and we have been going ‘flat tango’ on this for a week. We took the proposed document down to the National EFA to see if they would run with it or whether we had to establish a peak body such as the one in Queensland. Once completed, the document will be presented to Minister McGauran under the banner of the EFA”.

Horse Deals put it to Heath, would it not be better for all the pleasure/performance horse organisations to present a united document? “I know it would be better to have a totally unified approach from right across the pleasure horse industry, but that is such a monster job. Just concentrating on the Olympic disciplines is just about killing us to produce. We will release this document we are producing to the Queensland group and to anybody that is interested and they can use it as a blueprint to represent their own industry. The reason we are doing this and that other peak bodies are being formed, is that people feel they are not getting serviced and this document is a reflection of that. These things only happen if there is a need out there.

“The pleasure horse industry is so far out of the loop at the moment where government funding and compensation is concerned. You don’t see the Thoroughbred industry forming peak groups to represent them, because their representatives are already in there throwing punches on their behalf and they feel they are being well represented. I think you would find if our people were getting money thrown at them they’d quiet down very quickly. At the moment we go in there and say ‘us too’ and ride on the coat tails of the Thoroughbred industry. They know what they want, but do not just leave it at that. They actually put the infrastructure together and take it to the Government. This is what we are, this is what we want and this is what we need to do it and get so many people back to work etc. The pleasure horses industry just goes along and says they would like some funding as well. We generate the same amount of money, its just not quantifiable at the moment. We have to produce documentation regarding the size and value of our industry and what we want from the government.

“This document includes a scale of compensation and goes through the various categories, from owners, breeders and trainers to non profit organisations. For instance NSW Horse Trials administers the sport in this state and to do that they receive a ten dollar levy on every entry. But no competition, no levy, no funds. This document is for everybody so they can swing off the numbers; it will provide a facility for other pleasure bodies to assess their worth.


“We have to go on the front foot about this”.

Heath also has some information regarding proposed class action which was posted earlier today on this website. http://www.eiclassaction.com/

EFA Qld Update

What has Equestrian Queensland been doing lately?


It would appear evident that some of our horse community believes that EQ are not doing anything since the outbreak of EI, I would like to point out a few points on the front running work that the office is currently undertaking.

CHAPS

We in the office are looking after the Commercial Horse Assistance Payment (CHAPS), with over $1,200,000 already been distributed to eligible people in the non-racing sector. The criteria are below and if they want further information, it is on our website.

In some cases non registered sport horses will be able to access CHAPs if as at 25 August 2007, they are:
- broken in; and
- at least three years of age; and
- are under the primary care of a professional trainer or business with an ABN.

Applications will only be accepted from equestrian individuals or horse businesses that have an ABN or can show proof that they derive and declare an income from the horses submitted on the application

Equine Influenza Hardship Grant of up to $1,500

This grant program is being administrated by Qld Racing, however, our General Manager Rob Ferguson, is on the panel to ensure our members are fully represented.

The other grants available

Although we do not administer the following grants, the Equestrian Queensland has been handling a large number of enquiries regarding these grants.
Equine Workers Hardship Wage Supplement Payment: Workers involved in commercial horse dependent industries who have lost their job or most of their income, and sole-traders whose incomes have effectively ceased (transport operators, riding coaches, farriers etc), will receive the equivalent of Newstart Allowance. Applicants will be subject to income testing, but no assets or activity tests. The estimated cost of these payments is $20 million; contact Centrelink on 13 1021 or visit http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant: $5000 will be available for businesses which derive the majority of their income from the commercial horse industry, and have experienced a significant downturn in income. The estimated cost of these grants is $45 million; contact Centrelink on 13 1021 or visit http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
Grants for non-government, not-for-profit equestrian organisations: Up to $200,000 will be available to equestrian organisations who have, in addition to the provision of voluntary services by their members or affiliates, incurred expenses directly related to the outbreak of Equine Influenza, and the resulting quarantine restrictions. This is completed by sending a submission to the Government.
Morgan Park – Warwick

Equestrian Queensland and EFA paid for manuals for those there to complete their horse management sections for the coaching or Equi skills course.
Equestrian Queensland and Brian Fitton organised chips, chocolates and alcohol to be given to Warwick to help them
Provided as much information as possible

DPI / Sport and Recreation Qld (SRQ) / Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) / Office of Premiers.

Rob Ferguson and I have been talking with numerous representatives of the relevant government departments including DPI, Sport and Recreation Qld and Office of Premiers as well as the Federal Department of DAFF. We have met on a regular basis, at least weekly to ensure our members are fully represented and all our members concerns and issues have been presented. The matters raised include vaccinations, movement, grants, equity and recovery.

Equine Industry Recovery Plan

This plan was written by Natalie Nichols and discussed with Rob and I on the 3rd September. Natalie is now hired by the DPI as a Consultant to implement this recovery plan.

Industry Wide Steering Committee

We realised that the non-racing sector is extremely fragmented and therefore difficult to get the one voice to government as Racing has done. Therefore with a great deal of work from several key people in the industry, an industry-wide Steering Committee was set up. Rob Ferguson chaired the initial meetings to get this Committee implemented.

The Steering Committee is now working through the priorities of the whole issues the Performance and Pleasure Industry has, including vaccinations, movement, financial assistance, recovery amongst other things. This Committee has the voice of the industry and is being heard by the government. Both Rob and I are involved in this Committee.

Vaccinations

We have been discussing the vaccinations with key DPI and Biosecurity Officials from the start.
The DPI’s strategy has been eradication rather than full vaccination.
There is not enough supply of vaccines in the world to do a full vaccination approach. South East Queensland would need 300,000 vaccines at a minimum to fully vaccinate.
A vaccination strategy is being developed by the Steering Committee and will be submitted to the government in the next couple of days.
We were originally provided with 100 vaccines for the State Squad horses, after negotiations we were given 600 vaccines.

Press releases and media

Since EI started I have sent out several press releases and answered a large number of enquiries from different media outlets.
Rob and I have conducted several interviews with radio stations and newspapers. Rob was interviewed by Channel 9 but unfortunately the interview was canned an hour before news time for a racing story.

Website and weekly e-news
I have been updating the website several times a day. All information has been up on the website – http://www.qld.equestrian.org.au/ for people to view.
Weekly e-news has also been going out with all the latest news.

There are the major things the office has been doing, as well as our normal duties - administration, organising awards and conference etc.

As you would imagine, the quantity of phone calls has been considerable over the past 9 weeks

But please be rest assured we are working for the members of Equestrian Queensland who are the EFAQ. We have been working from day 1 to ensure the concerns and issues of our members are heard by the government.

If you still feel that you are not being represented by the EFA please direct your concerns to EQ and we will provide you with the facts rather than some rumours that are out there.

Kind regards
Liz Buchanan

Out with the Governing Bodies

And their Racing..... JH (Southern NSW)

How right you are with your blog, the flood gates will open and we will find out the truth after the great cup has been run and we will get fed a whole heap of rubbish about how it got to Vic, these reasons are going to totally fascinate me and many others let me tell you.

And yes these horses can still carry the disease, but hey the lesser equine community is of no detriment to the racing community, so lets go spread it all again, so again its just another case of stuff you jack we are right !

Just in case none of you know this disease can show its head a second time I know of 3 people now who it have it again and its been worse 2nd time around.

I do have a question though, what happens if this dam thing mutates???????? Has anyone thought of that ? Then what, are we back to square one??? Do we start all over again, will many of us little people have to stand back and watch our precious babies and horses die again?????

I to am over this pathetic country and its governing bodies and their total disregard the battlers of this country, the people that MAKE this country run.
We have suffered drought so hard in the last few years but we will still battle on in the hope that things get better but we keep getting kicked, then we get this Ei and have to sit back and watch the whole racing industry get paid to have horses stand in a paddock and the owners get paid these horses never made them money when they were racing and then as you say some fat cat get on and talk about racing resuming on Dec 1st and that it will never happen to racing again, well Mr Fat Cat, so glad you had the choice to be able to make that statement.

What ever happened to Australian commandership? Whatever happened to all for one and one for all ????

Australia has never been like this and it disgusts me to no end.
I sit back and all I see is doom a gloom, kids being murdered and government departments do nothing until its to late (how very sad for that young boy to have to endure what he did), Ei raging out of control across our country, and no matter what the DPI tries to convince you of it IS out of control ! People killing themselves because they have not just been wiped out by drought but now EI and the government departments wont help as they are to busy feathering their own nests !

Come on Australia we have an election coming up, I don’t trust either and I will not vote, if I am fined I don’t care.
The money that’s being spent on these hideous tv shows and add campaigns I think could have been put to better use.

But in saying that, its typical of Howard to try and save everyone else before he ever saved his own, that’s why we are where we are now, that’s why we have kids dying at the hands of the gov bodies, that’s why our suicide rate is up so high all thanks to our government.

This is the one time in my life where I cannot truly say I am proud to be an Australian because I am not, I am pretty disgusted at what the politics is doing to this country.

Angie

Updated maps of Queensland infected areas

New maps today (click to enlarge)

SE Queensland Infected Clusters

As at 21/10/07 (Click to enlarge)

Vaccinating in the Red and Purple Zones

Today the question was proposed; “Will my EFA register hack that lives in the Red zone receive vaccine? As on the NSW EFA website it looks as if only EFA hoses with performance cards will get vaccinated “ So we contacted Dr. Dekek Major of Agnes Banks Equine Clinic who has put in hours of voluntary service since the outbreak of EI and has taken on the responsibility of the delivery of the vaccine to other vets as well as the arduous job of mass vaccination for EFA members.

Derek explained that all unaffected horses in the Red and Purple zone will get vaccinated either by the DPI or the vaccines allocated to the EFA. “If I go to a property and there are EFA registered horses and non-EFA horses, they all receive the vaccine. We are trying to prioritise horses that are involved in riding schools and are used by people to make their living but other wise the aim is just to get all horses covered.”

EFA NSW Members - If you were contacted last week by the EFA office regarding vaccination of your horse in the Red and Purple Zones and were included on the list for the DPI, and HAVE NOT YET HEARD from the DPI, please ask your own vet to contact Derek Major at Agnes Banks Vet Clinic on 02 4588 5200 or derek.major@agnesbanksequineclinic.com.au to access the vaccine for your EFA NSW performance horse/s. In the interests of making the process as efficient and effective as possible, please do not contact the clinic personally, your vet must be the point of contact.

Temora EI vaccination to be completed today

23 Oct 2007

The final horses in the Temora and Barmedman equine influenza (EI) buffer will have receive their first EI vaccination shot today.

NSW DPI said overwhelming cooperation from local horse owners has enabled the vaccination of 1138 horses and one donkey to be completed in only nine days.

“We have had up to six vaccination teams working continuously to stop the spread of horse flu in the Temora area by building a buffer of immunity around seven properties with infected horses,” NSW deputy chief veterinary officer, Steve Dunn, said.

“NSW DPI has employed 13 temporary staff to assist with the Temora vaccination program, including assisting vaccination team vets and liaising with local horse owners.

“Most of these people work in the horse industry and their income has been affected, so this is a welcome opportunity to earn some money while helping their industry get back on its’ feet.

“I must stress, however, that good hygiene and movement restrictions remain vital to efforts to contain and eradicate EI.”

The second round of vaccinations is scheduled to begin in early November.

First round of EI shots delivered to Dubbo horses

The last of almost 2000 horses in the Dubbo equine influenza (EI) buffer will have received its first EI shot by end of business tomorrow.

NSW deputy chief veterinary officer, Steve Dunn, said up to seven veterinary teams supported by staff at the local vaccination centre have been working to complete the first round of vaccinations since October 2.
“They have vaccinated everything from zebras, Przewalski horses, Persian onagers, 20 donkeys, children’s ponies, draft and working horses to thoroughbreds,” Mr Dunn said.

“We have received overwhelming support from the Dubbo community for the efforts of local veterinarians, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Rural Lands Protection Boards staff to vaccinate horses.

“The priority for vaccinations in buffers has been established to contain the disease within the known infected areas.

“Good hygiene and movement restrictions remain vital to efforts to contain and eradicate EI.”

A second round of EI shots will soon be delivered to horses in the Dubbo buffer to complete the vaccination process.

EI eradication questions

The real killer of trust is as pointed out before are the so many half truths.
The fact that instead of the ausvet plan being followed to the letter, politics hijacked and took over, enabling its spread far further than it would have.Then there’s the question how effective is a plan that never put any of the necessary protocols in place, i.e., applications to import vaccine already applied for and passed so the plan could swing into action without waiting an entire month, then thanks to political intervention those that did arrive were hijacked and never saw the buffer zone.

That’s a pretty big trust breaker. Well unless you’re a TB trainer with horses in work and had a least one race start.

That was the other half truth that sticks and repeated at every one of those DPI information meetings going on.

That this happened because the racing industry had one voice representing EVERY member of the TB industry. If that were really true I haven’t met one single broodmare owner or youngster in training that had not had its first start yet, saying that they did not want theirs vaccinated.

They are the majority of the TB industry not the ones actually racing.
Yet where did all the vaccinations go. WHERE WAS THEIR ONE STRONG VOICE?????

They felt just as voiceless and forgotten as the rest of us.
BUT For me one burning question RIGHT NOW is the often repeated one that after a month the property where the outbreak occurred is free of the virus.

If that is so WHY WAS RANDWICK EVACUATED AND DISINFECTED?
FOR WHAT?

If as we are told the virus is dead by then?

I don’t see any protocols for the disinfecting of any of the nearly 4,000 other properties so listed, Why only Randwick?

Sandy

Equine Influenza Class Action

Hello, the words here are from Heath Ryan and the webmaster is Sharon Carroll. This has been posted on Monday 22nd October, 2007, specifically for those who do feel that what power brokers there are out there are not really representing the small people who, hello hello, do represent the overwhelming majority.

EI for some of us is already completely changing our lives forever, for others it has certainly intruded into our lives in a most unwelcome manner, and for others it is imminently threatening! All of us to a greater or lesser degree are experiencing hardship and pain. Most of us are also seriously outraged by many aspects of this exotic disease. How did it get into the country? How did it get out of Eastern Creek? Why wasn’t it controlled earlier? Was critical information withheld from we, the general public, and in particular, the leisure and sporthorse industry? Why is it that the DPI who are supposed to rescue us in these types of situations seem so leaderless, factional and clumsy? Why does the thoroughbred sector (just 20% of the equestrian industry) get so much government support (money) and we such small amounts by comparison? Why are we so unable to obtain transport permits and the thoroughbreds seem to move so easily and at times, move whole broodmare bands, up to 45 broodmares, even when they are in a red zone? Why are the thoroughbreds and trotters getting EI vaccine and inoculation in front of us? Are these blanket inoculation tactics which are being advocated by the thoroughbred industry in step with eradication? If not, then who is going to pay the $400 million inoculation cost each year to our industry for the rest of our lives? What about our kids and their ponies? Does this mean the Australian kids from the bush, and the backstreets, and the pony clubs, will become something of the past?

All of these questions illustrate that to date there is a massive inequity out there in our industry, and that to date both federal and state governments and their departments have proven unable to step up to the mark in this time of national crisis.

What to do?

Firstly, I have to say that my personal view is that the federal government and Peter McGauran is trying, however so far it seems unable to perceive and then focus up on us and our needs. It is sadly possible that this phenomenon just goes right on happening and in that event the last resort will be “class action”.

The state government and Ian McDonald seem to me to be seriously clumsy and certainly initially not at all interested in us sporthorse and leisure equestrian industry. Again, the last resort will be “class action”.
Class action and its success will be largely influenced by the findings of the inquiry led by retired High Court judge, Mr Ian Callinan. These findings are not due until the end of April, 2008, so there is no quick fix. A class action is then likely to go for a couple of years. Most of us will by then be broke, exhausted, and 100% disenchanted. Still, there it is, and it may end up being necessary. Rumours are strong that the thoroughbred industry will mount a very formidable class action and that we should try to join their group. For me, I say no! I have no doubt they will mount a formidable challenge to the government, and it will be very well resourced. I also think the government will settle out of court. That means that all parties will then sit down with the thoroughbred industry representatives to negotiate their share of the settlement, without a judge presiding over proceedings. Just keep in mind, when on October 2nd, 2007, the NSW State government released $7.5million as EI relief funding to the equestrian industry. Well, the sport and pleasure horses got a miserable $300,000. Negotiating with the thoroughbred industry will, in my opinion, bring you little joy.

Many years ago, I did some dressage displays in the Regent Hotel for a couple of cancer charities, organised by a wonderful lady named Jan Carver. Jan was a serious horse enthusiast, and active EFA member, and owner of an Andalusian stallion which she campaigned with passion, and was also a prolific cancer charity organiser. Jan eventually died of cancer. Liza Carver is Jan’s daughter, and is currently a partner in the law firm Gilbert and Tobin. Liza has had a meteoric career and is very highly regarded. She has put together a team to represent the EFA at the Callinan Inquiry, which includes a team of lawyers and two barristers. The legal team is doing the work pro bono!!

Liza and Gilbert +Tobin do not do class actions. However, there are a number of firms with a proven track record for successfully running class actions and people affected by EI should think very carefully before signing up with any particular firm and to make sure the lawyer and firm offering to take such action has a successful track record. So for those of you who’ve read this far, and would like to sign up for the possibility of future class action, then you are welcome. Name, address and contact details are all you need to leave. At this stage, no monies and if it gets to that stage where we go forward with this option, then everyone will be notified of exactly what it will take, what the possible outcomes are, and you will be offered the opportunity to withdraw with no strings attached.

Yours sincerely,
Heath Ryan and Sharon Carroll.

To register your interest please visit; http://www.eiclassaction.com/

2008 CLARON PROPERTY GROUP:" GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1st June 2008

REVISED CALENDER FOR MAJOR SHC SHOWS

The Show Horse Council wishes to advise that as a result of the Equine Influenza Virus & the continued restrictions applying to the movement of horses & holding of Horse Events in the foreseeable future; it has been necessary to revise dates for several major SHC events.

A decision will be made in November as to whether the 2007 "Macquarie Bank A.C.T. & Southern NSW Hack Championships" scheduled for December will go forward, contact direct re these entries.

Entries lodged in the "2007 NSW Horse Of The Year" Show & "2007 Pitcher Partners Pacific Coast Hack Championships" will be returned along with all Fees.

The Council does not wish to cause hardship to competitors by holding monies over to the new dates allocated & this will also allow competitors the opportunity to decide whether they wish to enter or not.

New Closing Date for both Shows is 1st February 2008.
The following revised 2008 Dates reserved are:

• 2nd/3rd February Dubbo – "2007 Chesterfield Australia NSW
• Country Hack Championships"13th/14th/15th March Hawkesbury –
• "2007 NSW SHC Horse Of The Year Show"16th March Hawkesbury -
• "2007 Pitcher Partners Pacific Coast Hack Championships"30th/31st
• May/1st June S.I.E.C. - "2008 CLARON PROPERTY GROUP:" GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS"

Closing date for the 2008 Grand National has not been set at this time as the Council would like to allow the affected 2007 Grand National Qualifiers in other States the opportunity to be rescheduled if possible.
The Council has made these decisions to try & keep faith with its competitors, Sponsors & all others who have been impacted upon by the EIV. Hopefully this time frame will allow plans to be made and normality to return; the Council will advise if this situation alters.

Roma Stonestreet
Hon Secretary
Show Horse Council Of Australasia Inc

And their Racing.....

I can’t believe (actually I can, nothing is a surprise any more) that after a couple of months of it being advertised that the Corowa races would go ahead WITHOUT HORSES, that suddenly now a week and a bit out from the Melbourne Cup, suddenly they announce that the Corowa Melbourne Cup day races will go ahead, and also the Albury races on Oaks day… What does this mean, does it mean that the flood gates are being opened right before our eyes. So many people on this blogger have said that this is what will happen as soon as the big race is over.

I find this so ironic as especially at Corowa, most of the thousands who attend will say at least once during the day “oh, are there horses here” – meaning that most people don’t go for the horses, don’t care about horses; they go for the party. Most of them will be intoxicated and these are the people we are trusting to not pass along the virus to any of the horses at the track?? If I remember rightly, these vaccinated horses can still carry and spread the virus??

Then I see some FAT CAT on the telly this morning saying that racing will go ahead in Sydney on December 1, and all of their horses have been vaccinated, and this will NEVER happen to racing again – I didn’t see much consideration for the rest of the horse world in his interview!

I’m now feeling quite depressed about the state of this pathetic country, not just EI, but the fact that gambling funds so much, and gambling also destroys so many lives, and the drought. There are many wonderful people in it, however the ones that run this show appear to be greedy, nasty and self centred.

Why is EI not an Election issue??

JH (Southern NSW)

A Study of the most destructive recorded episode of equine influenza in history.Equine Influenza Devastates America

Equine Influenza Devastates America

That would have been the headline in the Autumn of 1872 if the journalists in New York could have correlated the information pouring into The New York Times about the spread of the worst equestrian catastrophe in the history of the nation – and perhaps the world.

Imagine an equestrian health disaster that crippled all of America, halted the government in Washington DC, stopped the ships in New York, burned Boston to the ground and forced the cavalry to fight the Apaches on foot. It was an equine tragedy so deadly that one wave of the infection swept south like a Biblical plague from its origin in Toronto, Canada, down the Atlantic Seaboard to Havana, Cuba, leaving everything in its path in ruins in weeks, while another branch simultaneously raced west to the Pacific.

Now imagine if knowledge of the greatest equine epidemic in North American history had been lost – until now.

The majority of Americans today cannot begin to conceive of life without the smooth-running transportation system which has been part of their lives since Eisenhower was president. Nor can Americans today imagine the inconveniences, and dangers, associated with a disruption of a system they simply take for granted.

Everything they know.
Everything they depend on.
Everything that defines their lives from Pampers, to insulin, to the New York Times, to coffee, to ambulances, to.........
Everything that protects them, keeps them warm, feeds them, defines their personalities and makes them feel safe.
Their entire world is tied into a transportation system that serves them silently from cradle to grave.

Now imagine
No food, no luxuries, no basics, not even any emergency services.
Imagine the recent scenes of floods of climate refugees fleeing on foot from a flooded New Orleans.
Imagine the recent scenes of crowds of frightened New Yorkers running from terror.

Read more.
.

Fair Hill International CCI***

Phillip Dutton wins US Eventing Championship
October 22, 2007

Phillip Dutton of West Grove, Pennsylvania, rode The Foreman to victory in the US Equestrian Federation (USEF) CCI*** Eventing Championship at the weekend.

The championships was run during the 19th annual Dansko Fair Hill International Festival in the Country.

Dutton's CCI win was his fourth at Fair Hill with previous wins coming in 1996, 2000 and 2004. This marked his first time winning the USEF Three Star Championship however, as this is the first year riding as a US citizen for the three-time Australian Olympic veteran. Earlier this year, riding in his first international event as a U.S. citizen, Dutton won the USEF Four Star Championship at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Read more.

Boyd Martin places 2nd and 4th.

Full results.

International Video Dressage Competition

Interdressage is gearing up for its for its first ever Championship show to be held in December, and has announced the prizes Interdressage riders will be competing for.

Launched in May this year, Interdressage enables riders to compete via video from the security of home, in monthly online dressage competitions and is proving very popular with riders worldwide. Interdressage has made it possible for people to compete for lovely rosettes, cash prizes and valuable help and feedback, who up until now, may not have been able to enter conventional competitions for reasons such as having no transport, suffering from competition nerves, lack of time or family commitments.

British Dressage listed judge Glynis Mills judges each class and there is written help and advice from Karina Hawkridge, freelance riding instructor and founder of Interdressage, at the end of each scored test sheet.

Read more.

Go to the Interdressage website.

Waterhouse and co thrilled as racing at last has some light at end of the tunnel

TOP trainer Gai Waterhouse has welcomed confirmation that racing will return to Randwick on December 1 after two months of racing industry turmoil caused by the equine influenza outbreak.

At a Racing NSW media conference yesterday, chief executive Peter V'Landys unveiled a "road to recovery" plan that will be kick-started by a Kembla Grange race meeting this weekend, with public access allowed.
Equine flu ripped through Waterhouse's stables early last month but she was quick to move horses back to Randwick yesterday after NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald gave the all-clear for thoroughbreds to return to the decontaminated racecourse.

Read more.