Racing in NSW is in crisis with authorities locking down the state's major training centre at Randwick Racecourse after horses at nearby Centennial Park were found to be suffering from an infection believed to be equine influenza (EI).

All of Saturday's race meetings in NSW have been called off by the NSW government after horses at Centennial Park were found to be suffering from an infection believed to be equine influenza (EI).

V'Landys and Primary Industries minister Ian Macdonald spoke on Thursday after 11 horses stabled at Centennial Park were reported to be showing signs of respiratory complaints.

Earlier this week, quarantine officials in Sydney and Melbourne ordered almost 80 horses to remain isolated at Eastern Creek and Spotswood after a horse which travelled from the northern hemisphere was diagnosed with suspected equine influenza.

The case was the first in Australia but last week racing in Japan was shut down due to positive tests detected in several horses.

Around 700 racehorses are stabled at or close to Randwick Racecourse. The horses resident at Centennial Park include those active in the NSW Mounted Police force along with those used for equestrian and recreational purposes.

The infected horses are believed to be recreational horses.

Some of the world's most valuable stallions remain in isolation at the Eastern Creek and Spotswood facilities with Coolmore sire Encosta De Lago reported as the horse infected.

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