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After announcing the closure of equine veterinary services at Werribee Equine Centre, Racing Victoria has announced it will continue.
Racing Victoria and the University of Melbourne have come to an agreement that will see the services of the U-Vet Werribee Equine Centre continue.
U-Vet will continue to provide year-round emergency 24-hour on-call service for serious limb injuries and fracture for thoroughbreds in training and racing.
This will also extend U-Vet's previous commitment to provide these services during key racing carnivals.
These services support the enhanced safety measures announced by RV for the Spring Racing Carnival and the international horses in training at Werribee International Horse Centre.
RV Chief Executive, Giles Thompson, said they were pleased to reach agreement with the University of Melbourne for U-Vet to support trainers, owners and raceday officials in sourcing emergency care for any seriously injured thoroughbred racehorse.
"U-Vet's 24-hour year-round on-call emergency service for thoroughbred racehorses will ensure expert care is available for our horses should they sustain a serious injury during racing or training, which is an important welfare outcome," Thompson said.
"U-Vet is one of the state's leading equine hospitals and it will be available at all times to assist horses competing at our metropolitan tracks if there is a serious injury, importantly when racing on Friday nights and weekends.
"The agreement adds to U-Vet's existing commitment to provide 24-hour on-call support to horses stabled at the Werribee International Horse Centre and ensures that we can deliver all of the enhanced safety measures announced recently for the Spring Racing Carnival."