No word on flu plans

By Shaun Inguanzo
RACING authorities will neither confirm nor deny rumoured plans to expand Sandown Racecourse’s quarantine facility in the wake of equine flu concerns for international race horses competing at the Spring Carnival.
Racing Victoria operates the 22-horse quarantine facility at Sandown Racecourse and this week a spokesman told the Star that it had no plans that he was aware of to expand the facility.
But the spokesman did not rule out an expansion of the facility given the ongoing dramas with an equine flu outbreak in New South Wales and Queensland.
A source close to the Star said racing at Sandown, including the forthcoming 5 September race day, looked set to continue.
But the source also mentioned plans to add on to the quarantine facility.
Star believes that an expanded facility would allow for quarantine of interstate horses where the equine flu is rife.
Star contacted Sandown Racecourse’s managing body the Melbourne Racing Club for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.