HORSE RACING
Toxic fumes linked to race horse nose bleeds in Shongweni
Trainers at the Summerveld training centre suspect the Shongweni landfill, a site managed by EnviroServ
A number of trainers at the Summerveld training centre in Shongweni, KwaZulu-Natal, have expressed grave concerns about horses bleeding from their noses as an apparent result of toxic fumes emanating from the Shongweni landfill site managed by EnviroServ, the waste management giant. Since 2015 residents of the area have accused the corporation of being responsible for a multitude of illnesses, including nosebleeds, asthma, bronchitis and headaches from the pungent fumes. Trainer Paul Lafferty, whose stables are nearest to the landfill, said several of his runners had been affected. "Every time the stench appears it blows into my stables first as we are on the perimeter. Horses come back bleeding profusely after just cantering on the track, which is not normal." Lafferty said that members of his staff were also affected. "When the fumes blow in on a bad day, my head lad’s face swells up and he seeps from his skin. His condition has been diagnosed as baritosis, which usually develops ...
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