Qld's quarantine facility clears horses

A new quarantine area set up to allow the horse racing industry to improve travel in the lead-up to Queensland's winter racing carnival has turned out its first draft of horses from quarantine.
Grandview Stud, at Peak Crossing, south-west of Brisbane, is being used to ensure horses test negative for equine influenza (EI) before they are moved between red, amber and green zones within Queensland and interstate.
Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) chief operations manager Malcolm Tuttle said 17 horses were leaving the stud this week for Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Victoria and northern NSW after a week in quarantine.
Before its opening, Mr Tuttle said racehorse owners from interstate would think twice about sending their horses into Queensland if QRL could not facilitate their return.
"Top of our mind is the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival that before too long will be upon us, and also the need to free up movement of horses," he said.