KARACHI: The persistent wave of equine flu that has taken the Karachi Race Club (KRC) into its grip since last one week has compelled its management to cancel the Gymkhana race meeting that was slated to take place on May seven (Sunday).

“Not a single entry was received by the deadline on Thursday,” a spokesman for the KRC told Dawn.

This is the second successive meeting that has been cancelled due to disease.It is pertinent to mention that the preceding Sunday’s races (April 30) were also cancelled owing to the illness of racing horses.

Asked about the treatment he said the KRC veterinary doctors were looking after the sick horses on a regular basis and slight recovery has been witnessed.

Responding to another query he said presently, 130 to 135 horses are in stables and some 75 were under treatment.He added that the virus had also affected the morning track work of the horses.

He was not sure that the races would take place on May 14 or not when asked about the next meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2017