Horse flu outbreak cancels Hastings horse races

A flu-like virus is forcing Vancouver's Hastings Racecourse to cancel this Saturday's horse races.

The first horses fell sick a week and a half ago, but the virus hassince spread through the barn area and has nowaffected 150 horses.

Raj Mutti, regional general manager at Hastings Racecourse, says horses exhibit many of the same symptoms as people when they get sick.

They "get a cough, they will be sneezing, they will be very lethargic," he said.

Mutti says veterinarians are working overtime in the barn, but the horses stillneed rest and time to recover.

And while the flu typicallyaffects horses every year, Mutti says this year is different.

"Usually it only affects the younger horses. The two-year-olds and the three-year-olds," he said. "This year its affected every horse. One of our top horses on the ground. She's eight [years old]."

Races scheduled for 7 p.m. PT Friday and 1:50 p.m. Sundaywill proceed as scheduled. But two upcoming races will have to be cancelled.

Mutti says they will need to have enough thoroughbreds for the August 5 B.C. Day event the biggest race day of the year.