By Equestrian Life
Racing Victoria has announced a tougher screening process for horses after a review found the death of a horse in last year’s Melbourne Cup could have been avoided with a CT scan.
The review into the death of Irish racehorse Anthony Van Dyck, who was euthanised after suffering fatal fractures in last year’s Melbourne Cup, has been one of the main drivers to create a safer racing environment.
In a report released by Racing Victoria, Anthony Van Dyck had been lame with Proximal Suspensory Desmitis in the days leading up to the Cup and was being monitored by the horse’s veterinarian.
It was found that if mandatory CT scanning had been carried out on the Irish racehorse, it may have identified the risk of him sustaining a serious injury during the race and saved his life.
The alarming rate of international horse injuries over the past decade has caused the overhaul of safety measures to be introduced for the Spring Racing Carnival, with primary focus given to the Melbourne Cup, according to Racing Victoria.
According to the review, “The RV Board has endorsed 41 recommendations, which centre on enhanced veterinary oversight and screening of international horses seeking to compete in the Spring Racing Carnival and of all horses – local and international – in the Melbourne Cup.
The recommendations also include the retention of the Werribee International Horse Centre (WIHC) as Victoria’s quarantine centre with enhancements to aid horse welfare; a cap on the number of horses that enter the WIHC; and education for international trainers, owners and private veterinarians to ensure clarity around the changes and RV’s expectations.”
Further details of the review and the 41 recommendations can be found here.
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