IPOH:  Aug 26, 2010

Apart from the two Novelty meetings restricted to Kuala Lumpur-trained horses on Aug 31 and Sept 11, there will not be any racing involving horses from all the three racing centres until the last week of September at the earliest.

Following the cancellation of the Penang August meeting (Aug 21, 22, 28 and 29) which was supposed to be held in Ipoh and the Selangor September meeting (Sept 11 and 12), the Perak Turf Club (PRTC) has also called off the first weekend of its September meeting (Sept 18 and 19).

The second weekend's races (Sept 25 and 26) will only go ahead subject to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) lifting the ban on the movement of horses based in Ipoh.

The DVS has lifted the ban on the movement of horses based in Penang and Kuala Lumpur and the importation of horses from overseas are also allowed at these two centres, subject to conditions.

"The new horses will have to satisfy two weeks of quarantine where their swabs will be taken seven days apart to determine that they are free from strangles. Only then are the horses allowed to be ferried to their respective clubs," said Dr Edward Samuel, head of the MRA Veterinary Committee.

The ban on the movement of horses based in Ipoh is still in effect. Under the Animal Act 1953, the DVS will only lift the quarantine order after 28 days from the day the first outbreak (of strangles) was detected.

This means the ban will end on Sept 14 which will give PRTC time to call for entries and stage the races on Sept 25 and 26. Also, results of the third and final swab on horses based in Ipoh will be known on the second week of September.