Careers unstable until life gets back on track
TOM Simpson, an equine physiotherapist who works for Anthony Cummings and John O'Shea, among other Randwick trainers, is unsure what he will do today.
"I guess I'll start looking for a job," he said last night.
Mr Simpson, 28, from Barraba in northern NSW, is one of tens of thousands of people in the racing industry who face an uncertain six months after the equine flu hit Randwick's thoroughbreds. He is among those struck by the financial fallout that is only beginning to be felt across the industry as the virus spreads.
"It's going to affect me in a massive way. It's my livelihood." he said.
Mr Simpson was left idle on Monday when he was asked by stewards not to turn up to work at any of the stables.
With a general physiotherapy degree to fall back on, he said he was one of the luckier victims.
Although he has worked only with horses and not humans for some time, "I'm certainly in abetter position than some people."
But yesterday's news means he must walk away from the job he loves, at least for a few months.
"I will have to explore other options," he said, "but it's definitely not going to be a comparable income and it's not my chosen profession."
His job normally involves a lot of interstate travel, but the strict quarantine measures imposed on the industry mean this is no longer possible.
"The staff of Mr Cummings and other Randwick trainers have been asked not to travel," he said.
Mr Simpson said he feared for the industry: "I see the best-case scenario being Randwick up and running in six months."
Compensation would be welcomed by Mr Simpson, who applauded Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys for lobbying the Government on behalf of those whose income depends on the health of the racing industry.
He acknowledged he should be behind the strappers and the farriers, but he said racing people knew they could depend on support from each other.
"We start work with each other at 4am in the morning every morning. It's one in, all in."