LAHORE, Nov 27: The midweek Lahore Gymkhana races to be held at the Racecourse on Wednesday have been cancelled, the Lahore Race Club (LRC) announced on Tuesday without giving reason. The sudden announcement came amidst preparations for holding the sports meeting and a card of six races.

It is learnt through reliable sources that Equine Influenza, a horse’s disease, has spread out and gripped some stables in the club, forcing the authorities to annul the races.

Earlier on Monday the LRC through a notification advised owners, trainers and their authorised agents to adopt extra-precautionary measures in order to protect their horses from what is feared to be an outbreak of cough, influenza and fever, which had already afflicted a number of horses in the stables of the Rawalpindi Race Club (RCC) and Polo Club, Lahore.

The notification further advised that in case of any symptoms of such diseases in their horses, they should segregate the animals and keep feeding utensils clean and separate. Horses afflicted with cough are to be administered Sulphanimide paste twice a day and those having fever are to be put on antibiotics.

Meanwhile LRC has appealed to the authorities of the Rawalpindi Race Club and Polo Club, Lahore, to not bring their animals within the LRC premises.

When Dawn contacted veterinarians in the city, they explained that Equine Influenza is an acute, highly contagious, respiratory disease caused by a virus. Symptoms include high body temperature of up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit and nasal discharge persisted by coughing as is the case with strangles (Distemper).

Those afflicted should be given proper care. It is always best to seek advice from professional veterinarians. Full recovery usually takes two to three weeks and the horses should not be exercised for two weeks after all symptoms have abated.

The unaffected should be protected through segregation.

Meanwhile under orders of LRC Chairman Tariq Aziz, the club has busied all of its work force to cleanse the stables, while removing garbage and keeping the horses’ parading yards absolutely clean. The water channels too are being cleaned.

LRC vets have been directed to keep themselves available at all times.