Mining threat to Australian industry

Australia’s A$2.4 billion breeding industry faces a major threat following the decision to allow a massive open-cut coal mine to expand less than a kilometre away from some of the best stud farms in the Hunter Valley.

The Drayton South mine expansion has received preliminary planning approval from the New South Wales Planning Department and now goes before the Planning Assessment Commission. They have twice rejected Anglo American’s plans for expansion as they say it would damage the health of horses and not be in the public interest.

The breeding industry employs more than 5000 people in Western Sydney, while the Hunter Valley is home to all the major stud farms, including those operated by Darley and Coolmore. The Commission will meet in September to consider the plan further.

Paris conference

Racing Australia chairman John Messara will deliver the keynote speech at the 49th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities in Paris on Monday, October 5th. Messara is also Chairman of Racing New South Wales, and a prominent international breeder and owner through his Arrowfield Stud.

“John Messara has been at the forefront of integrating and showcasing the very best of Australian racing and breeding to the rest of the international community,” said Louis Romanet, IFHA Chairman. “We look forward to learning more about the Australian racing model, the development and success of The Championships in Australia, and John’s outlook on global racing.”

At the conference two topics will be highlighted, “The Global Illegal Betting Market” and “Delivering Media and Information to Bettors and Fans”. Johnny Weatherby, Chairman of the International Stud Book Committee, will speak about the future challenges to the global stud book community.

Ragwort warning

It is timely to warn people about the dangers to horses of ragwort and to be on constant alert. Classed as a ‘noxious weed’, landowners can be prosecuted for allowing it to grow on their property.

It is important to know that ragwort is very poisonous in any shape, whether just growing, pulled, wilted or dried in hay, silage or haylage. Consumption of a quantity of ragwort releases poisonous substances which damage the liver rapidly and can be irreversible.

The most effective way to deal with ragwort is by pulling the mature plants out of the ground, preferably before they have seeded and spread. These plants should be removed completely from the pastures. Ragwort also flourishes underneath electric fences.

Another way to control ragwort is to graze pastures with sheep in early spring as they will eat the emerging plants. Spraying can also be undertaken at the same time and repeated for a few years to ensure the field is clean. Meanwhile, the advice is to check your fields now and tackle any growth that you can see before it is too late.

Peter O’Sullevan

A service to celebrate the life of Sir Peter O’Sullevan CBE will be held at St Luke’s Church, Sydney Street, Chelsea, London SW3 6NH on Tuesday October 27th, 2015 at 2.30pm. Admission to the service will be by ticket only, as it is likely that more people will want to attend than Sir Peter’s chosen church can accommodate. To apply for a ticket you are asked to email thevoiceofracing@addeddimension.co.uk including your postal address and a contact telephone number. The final date to do so is Friday September 25th. Applications can also be made in writing to Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s Service of Thanksgiving, Added Dimension Events, 6a Square Rigger Row, Plantation Wharf, London SW11 3TZ, England

John Fitzgerald

Lord John Fitzgerald will be remembered at a service to be held on Tuesday, September 8th at Kilkea Church near Castledermot. The service will take place at 3pm and his family invited all his friends in Ireland to attend.