Strangles outbreak triggers warning to Sydney stables

The NSW thoroughbred industry is on high alert following an outbreak of equine strangles near some of racing’s most prestigious spelling and pre-training farms.

Responding to an enquiry from The Straight, Racing NSW confirmed a property about an hour southwest of Sydney has been dealing with “active cases” of the disease.

Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon said the Animal Welfare League contacted the regulator’s chief veterinary officer Dr Carly Garling on Friday with information about the outbreak.

“We identified the property in question … and one of our veterinarians attended that property on Monday,” Moxon told The Straight.

“It’s important to note that there were no active or spelling thoroughbreds located on the property.

“There were retired thoroughbreds and also non-thoroughbreds. All the retired thoroughbreds were examined, and there were no reports of any of those horses having strangles.”

The Racing NSW inspection came ahead of a local government advisory warning for property owners in the Wollondilly Shire Council (WSC) area to be vigilant for signs of the disease.

Situated southwest of Sydney, the WSC extends from the edge of the Southern Highlands to Warragamba in the north.

It is a pocket for exclusive parcels of rural and semi-rural real estate that have become a growing focal point for some of racing’s biggest names and pleasure-horse pursuits.

State-of-the-art properties located in the shire include The Hermitage, a 250-acre farm owned by Hong Kong businessman Eugene Chuang.

Developed into a dedicated thoroughbred concern in 2010, The Hermitage has played host to some of Australian racing’s best horses, including Winx, the 25-time Group 1 winner who spelled at the property.

Winx’s trainer Chris Waller often uses The Hermitage to give his stable stars a mini-break from a daily stable routine between races.

Other well-known racing-related enterprises operating out of the district include Wild Oaks, a pre-training and agistment facility also used by many of Sydney’s leading stables.

Olympian Shane Rose runs Bimbadeen Park, an education and pre-training business that includes thoroughbreds, in the area. 

None of the above properties are believed to be involved with the current outbreak.  

Although strangles is not notifiable to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Moxon said it was mandatory for licensed racing people to report any cases to the regulator.

“We can’t do much when it’s in just the general (horse) population, but if it’s getting into the racing population, it’s something that we want to know about, and trainers are obligated to obviously advise us,” Moxon said.

“Strangles is something that we deal with all year round. 

“With the movement of horses and through equestrian avenues, it does unfortunately filter into stables, and we’ve got strict processes that we subject particular stables to if they do have a case.

“The trainers are well aware of the consequences if a sick horse does come in. There’s a risk their stable could be shut down.”

Moxon estimates that thoroughbreds are transported on a daily basis between Sydney’s racing stables and the spelling and pre-training hub.

The WSC confirmed that affected properties would be quarantined for veterinary treatment, and any outbreak would be managed on-site.

It stated that Racing NSW should be contacted if thoroughbreds are involved.

Strangles is a highly infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract in horses.

Early clinical signs often include a marked fever – typically between 39.5 and 40.5 degrees Celsius – along with lethargy and reduced appetite. 

This is followed by nasal discharge and pronounced swelling of the lymph nodes beneath the jaw and around the throat, which can rupture and form abscesses.

The incubation period typically ranges from three to 14 days after exposure, and management involves strict isolation of affected horses.

Racing Victoria confirmed a case of strangles at Macedon Lodge in late September , designating the training facility as an “infected place”.

All horses on the property were quarantined, and movement to and from the facility was restricted.

Horses affected included the 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice, who had a spring campaign aborted as co-trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon dealt with the fallout of the outbreak.

In 2017, Racing NSW stewards fined trainer John O’Shea $30,000 following a hearing into Godolphin’s handling of a confirmed strangles case in 2016.

O’Shea pleaded not guilty and vehemently denied knowing a horse in the pre-eminent stable had strangles.

Former Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre pleaded guilty to failing to report the matter as soon as practicable and was fined $15,000.

The penalties were issued under the Australian Rules of Racing after a stewards’ inquiry into the non-reporting of the contagious disease.