New Plymouth restrictions and Central Districts requirements

Strangles protocols are now in place for New Plymouth, with a minimum two-week lockdown applying to all horses housed at or training at the New Plymouth Raceway. These horses will be scratched or withdrawn from races accordingly.

NZTR and the Racing Integrity Board (RIB) recognise the significant disruption this will cause trainers, owners and their teams. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to contain the outbreak.

Why the restrictions apply across the facility

The New Plymouth response differs from the earlier Waikato response because of how horses are housed and share facilities.

At New Plymouth, a large number of horses are housed on site, with connected barns and communal facilities. Every horse housed at or using the facility is therefore considered potentially exposed, and restrictions cannot be limited to individual trainers.

In Cambridge and other Waikato locations, horses were generally housed on separate properties, allowing restrictions to be managed differently despite the use of shared training facilities.

RIB stewards began contacting all 17 affected trainers yesterday. Most have been spoken to directly, with messages left for those not yet reached and information also provided by email.

A new Directive is now in place and can be downloaded here.

Requirements for affected New Plymouth horses

Horses trained or stabled at New Plymouth Raceway are subject to a minimum 14-day stand-down from racing and trialling. Completion of the 14-day stand-down does not constitute clearance to race or trial. Horses must also undergo PCR testing in accordance with RIB requirements and receive clearance before returning to racing or trialling.
These horses cannot race and will be scratched/withdrawn from races over this period.

Requirements for all Central Districts (south of Taupo) horses

• Trainers must take and record horses’ temperatures morning and evening.
  The temperature monitoring and health declaration form is available to download here. These records must be brought to the race meeting and may be checked by the RIB.  
  Trainers must notify the RIB if a horse shows signs of illness or has a temperature above 38.5°C. 

Temperature Monitoring and Health Declaration

Any Central Districts horse travelling to a race meeting anywhere in New Zealand must follow the temperature monitoring protocol and have their records available for inspection at any race or trials meeting.

Central Districts horses travelling to the South Island must also have a negative PCR test from a swab taken within three days before travel.  In addition, for horses trained in the Central Districts, the RIB North Island to South Island Strangles Travel Declaration form must be submitted and the prior written approval of the RIB Veterinary Services Manager obtained before travel

North Island to South Island Travel Declaration
 

Stay alert and report illness

If your horse is sick, isolate it and notify the RIB promptly.

For questions about the response or requirements, contact the RIB: vet@rib.org.nz .

Thank you for your continued vigilance and cooperation. Your efforts help protect horse welfare, support industry businesses and keep racing going.

Further information on Strangles is available on the NZTR Strangles Hub.