Aussie racing braced for the worst

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Racing has been abandoned for 72 hours Down Under after 11 horses tested positive for a strain of equine influenza (EI) at Centennial Park Stables in Sydney, New South Wales and all movement of horses during that period has also been banned.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys told www.racenet.com.au: "If the ban continues for a month $1 billion in betting will be lost in NSW alone. The longer it goes the more devastating it is. The industry will also lose out on $1.2 million in prize money. And I stress that is only for the first 72 hours."

Punters were expected to invest almost $10 million on Saturday's abandoned Warwick Stakes meeting at Randwick.

"As you can see the industry will struggle to remain viable if the situation remains ongoing for an indefinite period," he said.

South African trainer David Payne, who now trains in Australia, has first hand experience of the virus having suffered when EI swept through his own Cape Town stables in the late 1980's when racing was cancelled for five months.

Payne said: "It's like living on the edge. I had 60 horses in work at Cape Town and they were all hit with it within 24 hours. It was rampant.

"Racing in South Africa was at a standstill for three months," he said.

"Horses get very, very sick. It really knocks them around."