French horses from an equestrian opera troupe are to be placed in a quarantine stable to avoid contracting an unknown illness that has affected more than 110 local racehorses.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club said 27 horses flying in from France for the French Equestrian Opera, Le Cadre Noir de Saumur, would be housed at a quarantine stable at Sha Tin racecourse with specially trained grooms.
Fifty-five crew members from the French riding school will be accompanied by five grooms and a vet to take care of the horses, which arrive on Wednesday.
About 111 local horses have been suffering from loss of appetite and several have had fever but the illness has not been identified. Blood tests were carried out over the weekend.
A Jockey Club spokesman said the French horses would be housed one kilometre away from local racehorses in the quarantine stable at the other end of the racecourse. The visiting horses would be in quarantine for the duration of their stay.
'It is not known why the horses have no appetite. We expect them to be fine in one or two days,' the spokesman said.
