Bankstown pans EI breach claims

BANKSTOWN Harness Racing and Agricultural Society president Les Bentley has scoffed at claims his club faced a $44,000 fine for breaching Department of Primary Industries equine influenza prevention protocols at its meeting last week.

"That was the rumour going around, but we've never had anybody speak to us," he said.

"It came from a complaint from someone at Harold Park. First we heard of it was when Bill Cable [steward] called on Monday morning."

Bentley admitted his club had no extra separation barriers or human hand and foot washes in place that night. "We were never told by the DPI" he said.

The Sun-Herald spoke to three DPI officers before one could confirm that race clubs in the purple zone agreed to "separate the public from horses" when registering their events. The officer said clubs must also follow NSW Harness Racing Club procedures at Harold Park, where a fence two metres from the outside rail, hand and foot disinfecting sites, and restricted stable-area access were in place.

Bankstown is scheduled to race on Thursday.