Australia's premier thoroughbred race, the Melbourne Cup, could be at risk after the country's first-ever outbreak of horse flu was confirmed Sunday to have spread outside Sydney.
With the country already under a 72-hour ban that has wreaked havoc in Australia's 20 billion-dollar (16.4 billion US) racing industry, sport insiders were glum about the prospects for the so-called "Race that Stops a Nation."
"If you think the unthinkable and this flu goes on for a prolonged length of time, then the Spring could be a wipe-out because trainers wouldn't be able to give their Cup horses enough time to prepare," top trainer David Hayes said. The Melbourne Cup is traditionally held on the first Tuesday of November.
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