Werribee Shapes Up For Overseas Horses
- Friday, 18 June 2010 06:15
Werribee's international horse centre is taking shape, with two quarantine compounds and a state-of-the-art equine surgery scheduled for completion by the end of next month.
The first wave of international horses is expected to arrive for the spring racing carnival on September 1, with as many as 15 raiders to be based at the quarantine facility at Werribee by mid-October.
A third quarantine stable compound is scheduled for completion by mid-August, providing a total capacity for up to 24 horses on the Werribee racecourse which also boasts a new track.
Racing minister Rob Hulls on Friday announced a $200,000 funding boost to establish the equine surgery which the state government and Racing Victoria Limited are each contributing $100,000 towards.
The project is among a number being developed across the state as part of the $86 million Regional Racing Infrastructure Fund.
Hulls said the key features of the surgery included two operating tables - one for surgery and one for the treatment of colic - a pre-operation room, a padded post-operation room and a 100-kilogram crane beam to assist in lifting horses on and off the operating tables.
He said all walls and floors of the surgery would be sealed to provide a safe, sterile operating environment.
Hulls said that the state government had spent more than $4 million on quarantine facilities and returning racing to Werribee.
The last meeting held at Werribee was in November 2007.
With government assistance the club now has a new turf track which was laid in April and the international horses will get first use of it ahead of the Werribee "comeback" meeting on December 4.
New plastic running rails will be installed by the end of July to provide increased safety for horses and jockeys.
"These upgrades will make Werribee the ideal place for international owners and trainers to quarantine their horses when they stay in Victoria as it will offer a high-standard training track and new stabling facilities," Hulls said.
"This venue will become a racing centre of excellence and a flagship venue for racing in Victoria."
The quarantine stable compounds will be complete lock-up facilities with security monitoring and have a large walking ring for the horses.
The first two compounds are being erected adjacent to the existing members' car park while a third compound is being erected at the top of the home straight, with the equine surgery behind the race-day horse stalls.
