By XAVIER SMERDON
ONE of the men charged with looking after a Melbourne Cup contending horse has been deported back to England after he caused the most serious breach of rules in the history of the Werribee quarantine facility.
Andrew Jackson was in Werribee acting as the groom and trackwork rider for Brown Panther, one of the horses considered to be a serious chance of winning of the Melbourne Cup when he broke strict quarantine regulations.
General Manager of the Werribee Racing Club, Ross Kendell, told Star that last week Mr Jackson climbed over a fence to access the quarantine facility before climbing it again to exit the facility.
“It was the second part of that equation that caused the real issues,” Mr Kendell said.
“We are very clear about the way we run the quarantine centre.
“We have two golden rules, everything that goes into quarantine stays there. All clothes and gear are required to stay in the facility and people are disinfected with a three minute shower.
“Unfortunately everything that went in with him (Mr Jackson) came out with him.”
Mr Kendell said Mr Jackson was then apprehended and contained by security before an investigation was launched.
Mr Jackson was then sent back to England for breaking the rules.
Mr Kendell said it was the only serious breach in the quarantine centre’s history and Mr Jackson could have released an exotic disease into the environment.
“All the other stables were very annoyed and very angry as well because they’re all doing the right thing,” he said.
“As far as a breach of this magnitude, it’s definitely the first time.”
Last Thursday the Werribee Racing Club also hosted the International Breakfast with the Stars in which the biggest names in Australian and international racing attended.
“This event is well entrenched as a fixture of the Spring Carnival,” Mr Kendell said.
