Hendra virus: the facts

Hendra virus (genus Henipavirus, family Paramyxoviridae) was first observed in 1994. It affects horses and humans and can be deadly for infected people.

Fourth person to die with Hendra virus

A vet from central Queensland died yesterday from Hendra virus in a Brisbane hospital.

It's Safe To Go Into The Water

HUMANS are more likely to die from injuries caused by horses, cows, dogs, beestings and snake bites than shark attacks.

Trainer Out Nine Months

THE Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board yesterday disqualified Warrnambool-based trainer Andrew Homann for nine months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of administering a prohibited substance to one of his horses.

The Three Wise Men Come Bearing Tips

'Because of the dearth of open-class racing in Sydney, the average field strength for Melbourne is six kilos stronger than Sydney despite NSW having better horses. We think this a shameful state of affairs. As a result Sydney trainers advise owners to sell to Asia because there is simply not enough open-class races in Sydney."

Jess Breaks Her Duck As A Trainer

JESS Rutledge has been around horses all her life but all she wanted to do is train race horses and, more importantly, winners.

Big Chances In Small Fields

A poor showing of just 71 entries for tomorrow's Caulfield card after over 140 horses were nominated earlier in the week. Although punters are faced with some tricky small fields, there are a few horses worth banking on for a return tomorrow.

Industry Won't Be Bucked By Crisis

ARTHUR Mitchell knows Hunter's thoroughbred horses and he feels assured they will continue to maintain the region's international reputation, despite an expected economic dip at yearling sales, which start on January 7.

Coyle To Be Head Trainer For Patinack

WHILE high-profile trainers Anthony Cummings and Mick Price will prepare a number of horses for Nathan Tinkler at Randwick and Caulfield, respectively, the man likely to be charged with the job of training as many as 140 horses for the mining magnate is Jason Coyle.

Geldings Aplenty

BEDE Murray is convinced he has two derby horses in Coniston Bluebird and Universal Gold, but both will be a little lighter at their next starts.

Clark Confident He Can Trouble The Kiwis On Any Track

THE world's second-ranked paceman, Stuart Clark, is hopeful he will not again fall victim to Australia's "horses for courses" selection policy ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.

Clark Confident Of Adelaide Berth

THE world's second-ranked paceman Stuart Clark is hopeful he will not again fall victim to Australia's "horses for courses" selection policy ahead of the second Test against New Zealand.

Watson Out In Horses For Courses

RICKY PONTING closed the chapter on an undistinguished Test victory by placing his players on notice and revealing a radical shift in Australian selection policy.

Not Enough Horses For The Merry-go-round

A summit of NSW racing should be called over the poor Saturday fields, a blight on Sydney racing, according to Michael Kenny, the Sydney Turf Club chief executive and the most experienced turf administrator in the state.

Southerners Ride Luck - And Win - In The Wild West

THE biggest influx of eastern states horses in more than 20 years has arrived in Perth for the summer carnival.

Unlucky Trainer Gets The Strawberry, Misses The Cream

GERALD Ryan wasn't in the top five jockeys during the 1970s and '80s but he was recognised as an astute judge of horses.

All Square As Gelding Repays Faith

ACCLAIMED horseman Neville Begg just had to buy All Silent back. The one-time Randwick trainer, who mixed it with the likes of Tommy Smith, Bart Cummings and co before spending several highly successful years preparing horses in Hong Kong, stood proud along with his wife, Yvonne, in the Flemington mounting yard yesterday.

Smooches For All As Silent Scores

GRAHAME BEGG capped off a massive Melbourne Cup week for NSW horses when Hong Kong reject All Silent scored a sizzling win in yesterday's feature event.

Flat Track Fooled The Irish, Says Higgins

FORMER champion jockey Roy Higgins believes Coolmore's three riders, as well as their horses, may have fallen victim to the flatness of the Flemington track in Tuesday's remarkable Melbourne Cup.

Horses For Longer Courses

ALL over the world globalisation is being blamed, in some quarters at least, for the ills afflicting financial markets and national economies. Money can flash around the world so fast that it is beyond control. Racehorses are a bit the same - or at least, the world of horseracing is, though in the sport of kings globalisation is still going from strength to strength - as yesterday's Melbourne Cup showed. The field had the largest share of overseas horses ever. New Zealand stayers have always done ...