Victorian DPI Situation Report - December 21

Just follow this link to read the report.

E.I. and Santa's Reindeer

As I sit here thinking of all of you and wondering just what you may all be doing on this pre Christmas day, I was thinking of potential threat to all the states which are free of E.I.
Nobody has considered the spread of this virus in relation to Santa and his reindeer!!!

What has the NSW and QLD dpi been doing?
This is a threat, of mammoth proportions, just imagine the repercussions of this?

Along with all the latest bio-security protocol conjured up in a small beuractric mind, why wasn't this thought of huh...doctors of spin?

Could it be that the pre-Christmas office parties and exchanging of gifts under $20 have taken priority, while we still suffer on this pre- Christmas day under your thinly veiled attempts to keep the racing industry happy!

My one wish is that when Santa was checking his list for worthy reciprocates of gifts, he crossed out the person or people who gave us E.I. and we, the mongrel majority, through no fault of our own must suffer the consequences.

- Carmen Bajpe

Mr Bean Christmas - Beware of the Turkey

News from Tassie

Folks
It is now possible to bring a horse into Tasmania from the Green Zones of NSW or Qld, under permit. The horse can only enter Tasmania via Victoria., therefore the horse must meet the conditions required by Victoria. These include;

• Pre-movement quarantine in NSW or Qld, as the case may be
• Post-arrival quarantine in Victoria
• Veterinary supervision
• Proof of freedom from EI

The full detail of what the Victorians require is available at http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/6C324BDD9E1E3722CA2573B400091E9FBD487D3B9C720F87CA25734F000A471A/$file/Green%20Zone%20Movements%20to%20Vic.pdf

If you have a horse in NSW or Qld, I suggest you check the NSW or Qld DPI website from time to time because the EI zones are changing. For example, NSW has just changed around 8 million hectares of the amber and red zones to green - and that may change things for your horse.

Horses from the amber, red or purple zones of NSW and Qld are not allowed into Tasmania at this stage.

Our disease control centre will be taking permit applications again from 2 January.

Cheers, Barry Calderbank
Communications
Biosecurity and Product Integrity
DPIW Hobart
ph 6233 6519 or 0407 858 293

Progress made on movement

MELBOURNE - Last week, after several weeks of detailed planning and liaison with New South Wales and Victorian DPI, a consignment of 66 thoroughbreds were transported across the NSW/Victorian border to the Inglis’ Oaklands sales complex in Victoria for a period of quarantine, having already served three days quarantine at the company’s Newmarket headquarters in Sydney.
Among those transported were yearlings to be prepared by Victorian farms for the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and a number of racehorses. All horses have been blood tested to verify they are “recovered horses”, as the DPI refers to them.
“Recovered horses are individuals that have had the virus and are now completely resolved,” Managing Director of William Inglis and Son Mark Webster said.
“They carry antibodies in their system making them immune to the same strain of Equine Influenza (EI). They are not capable of spreading EI virally and are considered safe for transport into Victoria by DPI after completing quarantine in approved facilities in accordance with National Protocols. Recovered horses are not the same as vaccinated horses. Vaccinated horses currently require a longer period of quarantine.
“Inglis is committed to keeping Victoria EI free, which is why so much work has been done to ensure horses that are entering Victoria meet DPI bio-security protocols. It is important to note that this movement of horses does not mean that we are back to normal, but movement is permitted provided protocols are followed and permits are issued.
“The horse industry in general must get back to business and take every safe step available to us along the way. We believe strongly in Victoria and want to ensure the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale delivers the best outcome for Victorian breeders and buyers. This sale is on everyone’s radar at the moment following the achievements of Weekend Hussler and Arapaho Miss during the Spring Carnival, and Sacred Kingdom’s performance on the international stage. The addition of NSW yearlings to the sale will help keep it in the spotlight.”
Following the success of the cross border movement, Inglis is now assessing the feasibility of conducting another movement of horses in January 2008. The aim is to help Victorian breeders get their broodmares and foals home from the Hunter Valley.
“We may also be able to help Victorian trainers who are keen to move their racehorses from NSW back to their stables. Only horses that have had the EI virus and are now classified as “recovered horses” will be considered for movement at this stage, as they require minimal quarantine. Quarantine at Newmarket and Oaklands will again be under strict DPI bio-security protocols,” Webster said.
The tentative dates for quarantine are: Inglis Newmarket, Sydney 21 - 24 January (depart and travel overnight); Inglis Oaklands, Melbourne 25 - 28 January.
Victorian thoroughbred breeders and trainers who would like to express interest in moving their recovered horses from NSW to Victoria in late January should contact Inglis by sending an email to transport@inglis.com.au and include their name, contact details, current location, number, type and EI status of horses they would like to move to Victoria. Anyone taking up this service will need to assist by providing staff to help care for horses during their quarantine. If demand is significant, priority will be given to loyal Inglis customers as numbers are limited.
"I've now seen the basis of the protocols being used to move NSW horses into Victoria and can confirm that I'm very happy with the progress that Inglis and DPI have made in recent weeks, albeit that communication among all parties could have been better,” Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria president Mike Becker, who was initially concerned about the movement of NSW horses into Victoria said.
“The advice we've received from DPI is that recovered horses are not a threat toVictoria and I have no reason to doubt this. We're delighted to be working in a co-operative manner with Inglis to assist Victorian breeders to get their recovered broodmares and foals back from the Hunter Valley in late January. This is a big step forward for the Victorian thoroughbred industry."
The remaining yearlings currently located in NSW and Queensland that have been accepted for the Melbourne Premier Sale will commence their quarantine at Newmarket on February 19 before heading to Oaklands for the sale which commences on March 2.

Don't sweat small fields

RACING NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys is not concerned about the prospect of small fields during the festive season, instead reiterating what a relief it is to be racing at all in the wake of equine influenza.
Just 73 nominations were lodged last Friday for Saturday's Rosehill meeting, and there will be only seven races and low numbers at Wednesday's Boxing Day meeting on the Kensington track at Randwick and at Thursday's Gosford meeting.
"You've got to expect smaller fields given we've just had the biggest crisis ever to hit racing," V'Landys said yesterday. "This is a time of the year when field sizes aren't huge in any case. We are back racing with a full program, and with the after-effects of EI you've got to expect that we are going to have a problem."
V'Landys said a huge number of race clubs in NSW wanted to race at this time of year to attract holidaying punters.
"All clubs have been patiently waiting to be able to promote in their area, so it is a bit hard for us to be scrooges at Christmas by saying they can't race," he said.
"But in saying that, if any meeting doesn't get the nominations to make it stand up then they will fall over."
There are 82 acceptances for the Boxing Day meeting at Randwick and V'Landys expects Saturday's Rosehill card to be bolstered when nominations, which were extended until today, are closed.
"Quite a few extra nominations should be received," V'Landys said. "A lot of trainers are creatures of habit and the nominations closed last Friday due to the Christmas week, rather than Monday."
A total of 10 meetings are programmed in NSW for Boxing Day, including a bumper day at Newcastle. The other fixtures will be held at Ballina, Bowraville, Inverell, Queanbeyan, Quirindi, Sapphire Coast, Tumut and Wauchope.
Another 10 meetings are set to be staged in NSW on New Year's Day, with Randwick to be joined by Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Gilgandra, Gundagai, Inverell, Orange, Port Macquarie, Sapphire Coast and Wallabadah. Night racing kicks back into gear at Canterbury on January 3.
V'Landys said crowds and betting turnover had been encouraging since racing in Sydney resumed earlier this month after being suspended for almost three months.
"We are gradually coming back to normal but it will take a while. When people change their habits you have to take time to expect them to change back," he said.
"We are committed to being back at the top of our game in the not too distant future and come the autumn carnival we expect racing in NSW to be thriving again.
"Plans are in place for Racing NSW to do one of our biggest ever promotions come the autumn. It will be promoted like it has never been promoted before. Tabcorp has given us a $1 million sponsorship to assist us in promoting the carnival."

Racing bosses not in zone

WINNERS AND LOSERS
CHRISTMAS presents will be missing due to EI restrictions placed on reindeers. Santa just won't be allowed to stray into certain coloured zones. Laymen in these difficult times shouldn't offer advice to government departments, even though the wail from the racing industry and others involved with horses is overwhelming. Ray Murrihy, the Racing NSW chief steward, has a better knowledge of EI and its ramifications than most and he has approached every government avenue to get a clearance to travel for trainer Graeme Spackman, who has 50 horses, fit and ready to race, in training at Bong Bong. "Spackman wants to run at country meetings, bolstering fields and benefiting the industry yet they [the horses] can't be moved out of their present zone," Murrihy explained on Saturday.
Even the reindeers are getting flighty.