Racing: Winners galore from EI victims

A study by Racing NSW has shown equine influenza has had a negligible effect on the performances of horses who contracted the virus.

The results of 124 races run in Sydney since racing resumed on December 1 were analysed to see how many of the winners had succumbed to EI and how many had been vaccinated against the virus.

The data showed that 77 winners of the 124 races had contracted EI.

"The figures are surprising and encouraging," said Brian Judd, acting chief executive of Racing NSW.

"They show 62 per cent of winners had contracted and recovered from the virus.

"Our analysis indicates that 52 per cent of horses that were competing in that period were EI-recovered, so it shows that statistically at least, the performances stack up well against those horses that were vaccinated.

- AAP