10 September 2007 : MEDIA RELEASE

NSW Racehorse Owners welcome Federal Relief but feel the reality of EI as well performed Thoroughbred dies at Tamworth

It was mixed feelings for President of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association Mr. Stephen van Eyk as his well performed thoroughbred ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ died from suspected EI related problems at a Tamworth property over the weekend.

The news devastated Mr. van Eyk who owned and bred Tip of the Iceberg which had won 4 races and over $45,000 in prize money, the 6 year old was trained at Tamworth by Lew Hyson. Tip of the Iceberg was ironically scheduled to race at Port Macquarie in a $25,000 Class 4 Handicap on the 26th of August but the meeting was cancelled due to the outbreak of Equine Influenza.

With the release of the $110 million Equine Influenza Assistance announced on Sunday it did give Mr. van Eyk hope that not all was lost with the EI outbreak. Mr. van Eyk said ‘all of the NSWROA proposals for compensation have been met by the package, particularly the payment of a daily horse rate subsidy to owners’. The NSWROA are strongly supportive of the efforts of Peter V’landys (RacingNSW) and Minister McGauran for their swift and comprehensive response to assist the industry financially. The NSWROA will now focus on ensuring the daily horse rate subsidy which will be paid directly to the trainer, is fairly credited to the Owner.

Contact:
Stephen van Eyk
Ph: 0411 696 072
David Reay
0404 694 269