Qld: Harness racers return to interstate competition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
Qld: Harness racers return to interstate competition

BRISBANE, Dec 27 AAP - Queensland's racing industry is taking a major step in its recovery
from the devastating equine influenza (EI) outbreak with seven top harness racers preparing
to travel to Victoria.

They will be the first Queensland race horses to travel interstate since the EI outbreak
in August.

Seven of the state's best harness racing horses this morning entered a purpose-built
quarantine area established at the Rocklea showgrounds in Brisbane's south.

Winners of almost $5 million in prizemoney, the horses will spend seven days in the
quarantine station under a purpose-built marquee in the centre of the showground.

The trotters will be flown to Victoria, where they will spend a further week in quarantine
before competing in Melbourne's Inter Dominion from February 16.

Queensland Harness Racing spokesman Damian Raedler said it marked a big step in the
recovery from EI, which has ensured strict movement restrictions on horses in Queensland's
south-east and in NSW.

"It's a good move for the national industry and, I suppose, the southern hemisphere
industry with New Zealand counted in," Mr Raedler said.

"It's also good for Queensland as it gets our elite horses back to top company in these
races in the south."

AAP dmc/lc/jl/mn

KEYWORD: STALLIONS QLD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.