A racing calamity.

Yesterday brought a shock to most Australians - a Saturday when there was no horse racing anywhere in the country !
Equine Influenza ( EI ) has broken out and this spells disaster for the racing industry - and for a whole flock of associated industries depending on this sport.
Yesterday the TAB missed out on turnover of seventy million dollars, bookmakers walked away without recording a bet, jockeys found themselves unemployed and the betting facilities of pubs and clubs were deserted.
It doesn't stop there. This is the breeding season and the embargo on horse movements means that sires can not be transported to mares and the future of the sixty million dollar industry will be in jeopardy.
A lot now depends on how long the embargo will be necessary - but there has already been speculation that the spring racing calendar will be in doubt - and that it may be necessary to delay the Melbourne cup - and hold it in December.
The fallout will be far and wide - and it will also include APEC. One of the most effective means of crowd control has been the mounted police. It is likely that come September the police horses will have to remain in stables. This is also the time of year when pony clubs and dressage events take place, not to mention the livelihood of riding schools and tourist ranches.
Somehow our quarantine service slipped up and an infected horse passed through quarantine while still affected by this highly infectious disease. The cost will run into the millions - and for many this spring will not seem like the Australia they knew of old !