September 2011 - Arma

20 Pages·2011·1.9 MB·English

September 2011
Official Publication of the Australian Racecourse Managers Association Inc.

In This Issue

 Gold Coast Conference

 R M Award Winners

 Racing in Paradise

 Hendra Virus Threat

 Consulting Dalton

 Hutchins’ Journey

 NPK $ & Sense

 Remedial Drainage
 Irrigation Water Quality

 Darley Track Renovation

Courses for Horses September 2011
Chairman’s Message Gold Coast Conference

Another great ARMA conference just concluded at the Sunshine, balmy weather, excellent facilities and
Gold Coast. In light of the many very favourable superb hospitality greeted the 137 delegates, speakers
comments received some might consider that the bar and sponsor representatives at ARMA’s 16th Annual
was raised at this conference but really it was just a Conference held at the Gold Coast Turf Club in mid-
repeat of the excellent annual forums held in the past. August. They came from all states of Australia, Hong
ARMA continues to kick goals/score tries with this, our Kong, England and the USA, as well as the usual strong
major event of the year, to enhance education and and welcome contingent of RMs from New Zealand.
knowledge in our racecourse management ranks.
More in the following pages. 46 racecourses, training centres and industry bodies
were represented and 24 sponsors took the
On another good note we were very pleased to see opportunity to discuss their products and services with
the superb achievements of some of our younger delegates. All were made to feel very welcome by
racecourse management people in national academic Grant Sheather, Gold Coast CEO, and Steve Andrews,
awards, announced at the Australian Golf Course Racecourse Manager, who had agreed to host the
Superintendents Association (AGCSA) annual conference at short notice after the tragic events in
conference in June. Christchurch, the former proposed venue.

Rebecca Dynon, now with Racing Information Services The temptations of Surfers Paradise were put aside as
Australia, last year’s Steriline Racing/ARMA Scholar, all got down to the business of discussing racecourse
won the 2011 National Sports Turf Graduate Award management issues, both during formal presentations
sponsored by the Sports Turf Association and Turf and informally during breaks and field trips. Highlights
Grass Association of Australia in partnership with Toro of the program were: hearing the lessons learnt by last
Australia. Rebecca wins a trip to the USA to study Turf year’s award winners from Hong Kong and Singapore
Management for 3 months at the University of racing and the Melbourne Cup carnival; technical
Massachusetts. In addition, Shaun Patterson from the sessions on irrigation water quality, integrated pest
Australian Turf Club, Rosehill, was the NSW State management, environmental protection and OH & S;
winner and a national finalist for this award. the grave threat of Hendra Virus; management at the
Hong Kong Jockey Club; racing at the Gold Coast Turf
Another ARMA awardee, Liam O’Keeffe, who was the Club with an inspection of tracks and facilities;
inaugural Anco Racetrack Event Education Award interesting sponsor talks and demonstrations of turf
winner in 2010, was one of five finalists in the 2011 management equipment and machinery. Plastic rail
AGCSA Awards for Academic Achievement, presented installation was inspected during a field trip to
in association with PGG Wrightson Seeds. Doomben racecourse followed by a visit to the state of
Congratulations to Rebecca, Shaun and Liam for this the art Metricon AFL stadium at Carrara.
recognition of their academic excellence by the wider
turf industry. Reports of these sessions will be included in this and
future issues of Courses for Horses. Conference
Lindsay Murphy Proceedings now being compiled on disk by Warren
ARMA Chairman Williams, ARMA Secretary, will contain full accounts of
all presentations and will be sent to all delegates.

(Copies can be obtained by other interested persons
Courses for Horses is published by Australian Racecourse
for a modest cost by contacting ARMA by email – see
Managers Association Inc. (ARMA) ABN 26 251 204 702
Regn. No. A 0046406 D page 3)……………
PO Box 661, Greensborough, Vic, 3088, Australia.
W: www.racecoursemanagers.org.au
E: [email protected]

Front Cover
Editor:
Arthur Stubbs P: 03 8822 3458 F: 03 9830 1754 Main Picture:
The Conference Field
M: 0412 765 164 E: [email protected]
– all Weight for Age

Subscriptions: $44 inc. GST per year (4 issues) within Aust.
Lower Picture

Getting down to Business
Copyright
ARMA reserves copyright on the entire contents of this
publication. No portion, in whole or in part, may be used or
reproduced without ARMA’s permission. Every effort has been
made to ensure the information presented is correct but ARMA

gives no warranty thereto.
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Courses for Horses September 2011
The conference was well supported by our host, the Training facilities cater for 600 – 700 horses and 90+
Gold Coast Turf Club and Horticulture Australia trainers, operating 6 days a week on various track
Limited again gave valuable assistance. Once more surfaces: Velvet, Sand, B Grass, Plough, Bull Ring, and
our trade sponsors were integral to the success and Equine track. In addition there are weekly jump-outs
viability of the conference by their presence and with official trials every third week.
displays, their interaction with delegates and their
sponsorship contributions. Steve started at the Gold Coast in 1974 as a barrier
attendant and then in 1976 was made Clerk of the
They were: Anco Seed & Turf; Barriers International; Course. He became a full-time groundsman in 1981
Contour Consulting Engineers; Dad & Dave’s Turf; and under the guidance of Geoff Fanning eventually
Dalton Consulting Engineers; Evergreen Turf; Fornells became Racecourse Manager In 2009. Steve is very
Australia; Global Barrier Systems; Globe Equipment proud of his staff “most of whom have been here for
Solutions; Green Horticultural Group; M Collins & Sons; many years and between them have 343 years of
Martin Collins Group; Nuturf Australia; Polvin Fencing racing industry experience. They provide valuable
Systems; Programmed Property Services; Pro-Ride assistance in maintaining our facilities to the high level
Racing; Redexim Charterhouse; Rodney Industries; required to sustain our racing calendar and training
Scape Shapes Irrigation; Steriline Racing; StrathAyr commitments”.
Turf Systems; Sustainable Turf Renovations &
Equipment; Toro Australia & Turfcraft International. He concluded by saying, “we are very safety conscious
-------------------------- at the Gold Coast and provide full time first aid
facilities during training periods. All our track work
Racing in Paradise staff hold first aid certificates to Advanced
Resuscitation level. They also undergo quarterly
Steve Andrews, a very popular Racecourse Manager of Emergency Response training sessions. We regard an
the Year for 2011 and our host at the Gold Coast Turf incident as a rider off or an injury in the stalls area.”
Club, gave an overview of the club’s development and Casualties are trending downwards with this careful
how they cope with racing every Saturday throughout and responsible approach.
the year in Surfers Paradise, not to mention a heavy
training load as well.

The Club started life in 1946 as the Southport Amateur
Race Club and the first race meeting was held in May,
1946. In the early 1960s the club combined with
Oxenford Race Club to form the Southport Turf Club
which later became Gold Coast Turf Club. Early race
meetings were ‘picnic style’ but the enjoyment of
‘racing in paradise’ is no less these days despite the
professionalism of the sport.

Racing is still conducted on the original track site
which was built during the 1940s and then lengthened
Steve leading the field around the turn
to 1888 metres in 1985. The course proper is 26

metres wide and based on Kikuyu, oversown with
ARMA Committee
ryegrass in winter. The main site covers about 50
hectares and there is an adjacent training track site of
4 hectares. NSW – Lindsay Murphy (Chairman & Treasurer)
0417 744 252 [email protected]
The Gold Coast is the most heavily raced track in VIC – Martin Synan (Deputy Chairman)
Australia with 58 meetings held last year, all on turf, 0407 819 027 [email protected]
and the same schedule is listed for the current year. QLD – Warren Williams (Secretary)
0410 779 625 [email protected]
The main carnival is the Magic Millions followed by the SA – John Tonani
Prime Ministers Cup meeting which include 5 Group 0413 448 507 [email protected]
and 5 Listed races. Many jockeys have started their TAS – Sam Webster
careers at the Gold Coast, some of the best being Mick 0414 886 100 [email protected]
Dittman, Glen Boss and Michael Rodd just to name a WA – Geoff Murphy
few. 0419 769 462 [email protected]

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Courses for Horses September 2011
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Courses for Horses September 2011
Racecourse Manager Awards The second Anco Racetrack Event Education Award,
sponsored by Anco Seed & Turf and supported by the
At the conference dinner the highlight of the night is Victoria Racing Club, was given to Brock Neeling, RM
the presentation of awards for outstanding at Northam Race Club in WA. This award gives young
achievements and to recognize and encourage
promising younger managers and staff.

This year saw the 13th Racecourse Manager of the Year
award, sponsored by Turfcraft International, given to
our host Racecourse Manager at the Gold Coast Turf
Club, Steve Andrews. Awards were also made to
Martin Synan, Moonee Valley Racing Club RM, and
Steve Routledge, RM at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing
Club, for significant contributions at a metropolitan
and provincial racecourse respectively.

The two Steve’s achievements have been written up in
L-R John Ridley, Liam O’Keeffe, John Fargher, Lindsay
recent issues of “Course for Horses”. Marty, apart
Murphy, Rebecca Dynon
from being a class act as the Dinner MC, has had a
distinguished career at Moonee Valley over more than and enthusiastic race club employees hands on
two decades. experience at the major racing carnival of Melbourne
Cup week. Brock, who was unable to attend the
These awards are for persons who make a significant conference, will be brought over to Melbourne by
contribution to racecourse management, act in the Anco to be ‘apprenticed’ to Mick Goodie at
best interests of the racing industry and its Flemington and will experience all that goes into
stakeholders, and develop fellowship among making a successful carnival on such a big stage.
racecourse managers. The awards were presented by
Alastair Dowie, TI Editor, to nominees selected by the
National Body of Stewards.

L-R John O’Neill (Barriers Int.), Drew Cookson, Anthony

Schache, Lindsay Murphy
L-R Lindsay Murphy, Steve Andrews, Alastair Dowie, Marty

Synan, Steve Routledge & Scott Prince (Dinner Speaker)
A new award just announced at this year’s conference

is the Racecourse Management Study Experience,
The Steriline Racing/ARMA Racecourse Management
sponsored by Barriers International and supported by
Scholarship was the next award announced and is
the Australian Turf Club.
given to aspiring younger managers to broaden their

experience. This award, valued at $10,000 and now in
its 4th year, gives the winner a trip to Hong Kong and The inaugural winner was Drew Cookson, RM at the
Clarence River Jockey Club on the north coast of NSW.
Singapore to follow procedures at these top Asian
Anthony Schache, Director at Barriers International,
racecourses. The respective Clubs provide free
said that the award would enable aspiring racecourse
accommodation and mentoring.
managers from provincial areas to study operations at

the major city tracks in Sydney. Drew, whose travel
The winner of the Scholarship for 2011, announced by
and accommodation costs are covered by Barriers
John Fargher, MD of Steriline Racing, was Liam
International, will spend time with Lindsay Murphy
O’Keeffe, RM at Warrnambool Racing Club. Liam was
and his managers at Randwick, Rosehill, Canterbury
last year’s winner of the Anco Racetrack Event
and Warwick Farm learning about all aspects of track
Education Award and impressed judges with his
management, racing and training at these busy
progress and ambitions.
venues.
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Courses for Horses September 2011
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Courses for Horses September 2011
Hendra Virus Threat Tissue from the autopsied horses was ground up,
injected into experimental horses and it produced the
Dr Peter Reid, Equine Veterinarian from Brisbane, same disease as had occurred at Hendra. An autopsy
gave the conference a chilling, death by death, showed that the virus was present in Vic Rail’s kidney.
account of the havoc Hendra Virus has created in the
racing and horse industry, and the grave Hendra Virus is now known as one of the most
consequences of more to come unless stringent dangerous viruses known to man, classified BSL level
procedures are followed pending the development of 4. It is zoonotic, ie, capable of jumping species, carries
a vaccine against this scourge. However, the latter a 100% death sentence for horses and a highly lethal
solution is a year or more away and in the meantime 60% death rate for humans. 75% of horses die acutely
constant vigilance and careful precautions will be the from the virus and survivors have to be euthanased
only defence. under National Guidelines.
It is closely related to Nipah Virus, present in
Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India and there
is no registered vaccine or treatment available.

Viruses are very small organisms that have to live
inside cells in the body. They make copies of
themselves by hijacking their host’s machinery and are
then released from the cells. In the case of Hendra
Virus, it does damage by attacking the lining of the
small blood vessels throughout the entire body,
destroying the circulation and causing leakage of fluid.
In horses it causes respiratory and neurological signs.
The virus can cross into the brain and cause
Hendra Virus, previously unknown, reared its ugly encephalitis or lie dormant and can re-activate months
head in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra in September, or years later
1994. A mare was brought into the stables of the
trainer, Vic Rail, from a paddock at Cannon Hill. 20 Fruit bats were identified as the natural reservoir for
horses died or were euthanased, two at an adjoining Hendra Virus in 1996 and the virus has been isolated
stable, with 7 dying in less than 12 hours and 11 in less from bats in the wild. Generally they don’t appear sick
than 36 hours. The horses died by “drowning” in their or show signs of being infected and over 60% of bats
own lung fluids. This was followed by the tragic death can carry antibodies. They shed the virus when they
of Vic Rail within a week. A strapper also became sick are actively infected and under stress. Some bats may
but recovered. be “super shedders” of the virus. The virus spreads
from bats to horses by a horse eating or drinking
Conjecture into the cause of these fatalities included infected feed, water, fruit or spat contaminated by bat
poison, deliberate or accidental, a disease such as saliva, urine, faeces or placental fluid.
anthrax or botulism, fungal toxins, an exotic disease
from another country such as African Horse Sickness, Hendra Virus can survive in the environment for more
or something unknown. The Major Crime Squad than 4 days at 22 degrees in neutral pH bat urine. It is
became involved in investigations. sensitive to higher temperatures, pH changes and
drying. On mango flesh survival time depends on
The effects on racing in Brisbane during September temperature, fruit pH, and desiccation but ranges
and October, 1994, were drastic. Metropolitan racing from 2 hrs to more than 2 days. Under ideal
was cancelled for 3 weeks with a loss of approximately conditions the virus can persist for extended periods
$6 million in turnover. Affected properties at Hendra, facilitating vehicle born transmission.
Samford, Newcastle and Kenilworth were
quarantined. Movement of horses was not permitted From 1994 to 2010 there were 14 known outbreaks of
in the Brisbane racing precinct. European horses Hendra Virus in Australia with fatal outbreaks in 1994,
threatened not to travel to Australia for the 1995, 2008 and 2009. There were 12 outbreaks of
Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival. Hendra Virus in QLD and NSW in June and July, 2011,
as far south as Macksville and in August to date there
Samples from the horses were sent to the Australian have been 4 more outbreaks, 3 in NSW and 1 in
Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong and a Queensland. It is ominous that the black fruit bat is
previously unknown virus was identified. The virus gradually spreading south down the east coast of
was identified under an electron microscope and Australia. These latest outbreaks have resulted in 20
grown in cell culture. It was found to be related to horse deaths, 21 properties under quarantine, over
distemper in dogs and measles and mumps in humans. 100 horses under quarantine, blood testing and …
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Courses for Horses September 2011
monitoring, and over 70 people monitored and tested prevent horse-to-horse transmission by adopting good
for potential exposure. biosecurity practices, eg, isolation; prevent horse-to-
human spread by adopting good personal biosecurity
The large number of recent outbreaks are due to practices, eg, PPE; and develop a vaccine for horses.
multiple factors: dislocation of bat roosts after
cyclone Yasi; effects of floods on food supplies;
Scenario –Horse comes into work in a stable from a property which
declining immunity of bats to the virus in the large subsequently has a positive case of Hendra
urban bat colonies; waning maternal immunity of the
females; stress of pregnancy; stress of food shortages;
PROPERTY ses RACING STABLE Quarantine DCP
introduction of super shedders into the colonies; and
time of year as in cooler months the virus survives
IP
longer on the ground.
In the well publicised outbreak at Mount Alford, south
FLOAT OTHER
east Qld, 3 horses died and Dusty the kelpie became RACECOURSE contacts SPELLING
PROPERTIES
the first dog in Australia to be naturally infected
contacts with other horses
although no symptoms were displayed. The NSW and during work, trials, racing Quarantine DCP
QLD Governments then announced $6M extra funding OTHER STABLES
Quarantine DCP
for research into the virus, matched by the Federal

Government with another $6M funding.
The good news is that a horse vaccine is being

developed at AAHL and funding for horse trials has
The risk of transmission of Hendra Virus from horses is
been provided by the Qld and Federal Governments.
highest from a sick horse shedding virus from the
This is “cutting edge” technology developed by
nose, mouth, urine, faeces or other body fluids. It can
scientists in the USA in conjunction with scientists at
be transmitted by a horse which is not sick and horses
AAHL. AAHL is the only place in the world big enough
can shed virus up to 3 days before they show
to conduct the trials with horses.
symptoms. The risk also applies by transporting sick

horses or normal horses before they show symptoms.
The vaccine is made from the surface protein of the

virus called Soluble G glycoprotein. The vaccine is
Measures to prevent bat to horse transmission
highly promising and
include: don’t place feed and water under trees which
prevents infection in horses and shedding of virus
are flowering or fruiting and attractive to bats; don’t
when horses are challenged with live virus. AAHL is in
let horses graze under these trees, eg, by fencing off;
negotiation with a pharmaceutical company for
move the horse into a stable at night; remove
commercial registration of the vaccine.
susceptible trees, flowers and their fruits; consider

alternative tree species which are not attractive to
It is expected that a Hendra Virus vaccine will be
bats; moving horses from paddocks when bats are
available by 2013 or possibly late 2012. Work needs
active; wear appropriate personal protective
to be done on duration of immunity and how often a
equipment (PPE) when handling any sick horse and
booster will be needed. Field trials will be conducted
always wash your hands, face and arms thoroughly
to determine safety and the vaccine needs to go
with soap and water after handling your horse; don’t
through the registration process with APVMA.
allow others to come in contact with sick horse e. g.
The vaccine will also cross protect against Nipah virus
dentists, chiropractors.
and may be suitable for small animals as well.

If a case of Hendra Virus occurs in a racehorse the
A horse vaccine will help provide insurance for the
following procedures will be followed: tracing and
Racing Industry and mandatory vaccination will be the
testing of in contact horses for a minimum 10 day
best option to provide protection to the industry
period before and after contact with a positive horse
accompanied by recording on a central database
(this may be extended up to 21 days); compulsory
against the microchip number of a horse. Horses
quarantine of infected premises and ‘dangerous
should be vaccinated before being allowed to
contact premises’ for at least 32 days after last
compete. A horse vaccine will protect horses and
positive case; 3 rounds of negative tests in horses are
people and will prevent racing disruption and losses.
required before quarantine is lifted; and testing of

people known to have contact with the positive horse.
The “domino effect” of quarantine has the potential to
cause massive disruption and losses and loss of public
confidence in horse racing.

There are solutions to help prevent disruption and
losses: prevent bat-to-horse infection occurring;
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Courses for Horses September 2011
Hutchins’ Journey success. They then became involved in a syndicate
that raced Weekend Delight, a VRC Oaks winner, and
We travel south to Longford in Tasmania for the latest Stapleton Lass who won an Australasian Oaks at
account of one of those important people in the racing Morphettville, both being trained by Bart Cummings.
industry who keep the tracks in good order come rain,
hail or shine. This time it’s about Robert Hutchins,
Manager of the Training Centre at Longford which
caters for much of the training in the north of the
state. 25 trainers use the facility and 15 of these float
their horses to the venue. In the middle of winter
there are 130 horses in work on the busiest days
which rises to about 160 in spring. As well as being
the main thoroughbred training centre in the north of
Tasmania, Longford is the oldest racecourse still racing
in Australia, now conducting one race meeting a year
on New Year’s Day.

Robert brings a wealth of agricultural and horticultural
experience plus good plain sense to track
The Hutchins Family
management having formerly been a farmer and then,

with his wife Pam, developing a garden nursery,
In 1994, Robert commenced work at the Longford
specialising in roses. The latter venture resulted in
Training Centre. At that time nearly all of the horses
their involvement with the creation of the National
were from local trainers with very few horses floated
Rose Garden at the historic property “Woolmers” at
in for track work and only 60 -70 horses using the
Longford which has over 4000 roses and took some 4
tracks on a daily basis.
years to complete.

In his time at Longford he has seen 3 name changes of
The Hutchins family property, which Robert managed,
employer. Originally it was the Tasmanian Racing
was “Leigh Park” at Inverleigh, near Geelong in
Board, then Tote Tasmania and more recently
Victoria. The farm was a mixture of Merino sheep,
TasRacing. Robert noted, “since the advent of
cattle and cropping and consisted of 3800 acres with
TasRacing we have seen a vast improvement in the
about 800 acres of crops each year comprising oats,
machinery we have to work with, better tractors and
wheat and barley. In 1985 the family bought the St
machinery like verti drains, aggravators and grass
Gabriels Hereford stud and relocated all of the 200
seeders and this has made the job easier to manage”.
head of stud cattle to Inverleigh. The stud showed

cattle with good success in 4 states from Queensland
Robert and Stewart Gray comprise the total staff at
to South Australia and sold bulls to 6 states.
Longford, liaising with Murray Pyke, Northern Region

Racecourse Manager, as required. Robert said, “we
In 1992, “Leigh Park” was sold and Robert and family
have a 1600m grass track that is available normally 2
purchased the historic property “Richmond Hill” at
days a week and we have trials every second Tuesday,
Cressy, south of Longford, where Pam established the
weather permitting. The grass track, mainly rye and
garden nursery business. However, this venerable old
fescue, has an ironstone and clay base with a sandy
property became too large to manage so the family
loam topsoil. The ironstone base causes problems in
bought a smaller block, north of Longford. From many
summer as it drains very quickly but it also causes
sheep, stud cattle and cropping, the Hutchins’ now
problems in a very wet winter like we are currently
just run 15 Hampshire Downs breeding ewes together
having as it does not drain and we have no drainage
with 5 chooks, all controlled by a black Labrador dog
systems in place. Irrigation of the grass track has been
called Benson .
by 100m tow lines, however in the spring we are going

to install an automatic sprinkler system. Water is
Robert’s interest in horse racing started at a very
pumped from the local river, a distance of 1.5 kms”.
young age as his parents bred a couple of race horses

with good success and his uncle, Bob Hutchins, was a
“Our main work track is a 1600m sand track that has a
horse trainer who trained his horses on the family
clay style sand. This track is maintained every day
property. Around this time horse ownership started
with a variety of different smudges. It has an
for Robert and the first horse he raced was in
automatic sprinkler system for watering during
partnership with Polly Farmer and Billy Goggin, two
summer. There is no inside rail and we have a lot of
famous Geelong footballers. Pam and Robert then
drains around the inside to allow the water to get off
started breeding a few horses with Bill McMaster,
the track. We roll the sand for main gallop mornings.
another Geelong Football Club star, with more
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