BHA’S POSITIVE OUTLOOK

British racing says no new cases of equine flu found but hiatus could continue

BRITISH Horseracing Authority officials announced yesterday that no new positive cases of equine influenza – including those from Rebecca Menzies’ yard – have been detected among more than 700 so far processed.

The BHA reported the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket found ‘no further positive samples’ following the six previously detected at Donald McCain’s stable.

Under the header “latest information”, the BHA’s statement read: ‘The AHT has informed the BHA that it has received approximately 2,100 nasal swabs and tested and reported on 720. So far, other than the six at the yard of Donald McCain already identified, there have been no further positive samples returned.

‘This includes the swabs taken from horses at the yard of Rebecca Menzies. One horse – which tested negative – had previously been identified as suspicious and high risk after testing at a different laboratory.

‘All these horses will remain under close surveillance, analysis of tests from the yard is ongoing – and testing of the suspicious horses will be repeated.” The BHA announced the cancellation of three meetings on Thursday, because of the flu outbreak, and then swiftly imposed a six-day shutdown of the sport until Wednesday, February 13 at the earliest. The governing body is due to decide in the next 24 hours whether a Wednesday resumption is still feasible. Hopes that it might be appeared to recede when it became apparent on Friday night a second yard, Menzies’ in Durham, was potentially affected by the virus, which is confirmed as the FC1 North American strain. And while yesterday’s initial allclear on those horses appears much more encouraging, the BHA also warns there will be further re-testing – and many more samples remain to be examined from more than 170 yards which might have come into contact with the infection. The BHA’s director of equine health and welfare David Sykes said: ‘We are very grateful to all those trainers whose horses may have come into contact with those from the infected yard for working so rapidly with us and the Animal Health Trust to OUTBREAK: test their horses. There are many more tests to analyse, and the nature of the incubation period means that a negative test now does not mean that horse has never had this flu virus. So these yards continue to remain locked down, and their horses kept under observation.

‘Although hundreds of tests have been completed already, there are many hundreds more to be analysed over the weekend before we will have a fuller picture. The nature of disease control means that if a positive did emerge elsewhere, that could lead to more yards being locked down.

‘I would advise against anyone drawing any conclusions or making any predictions based on this set of results. Our focus remains on containing the virus through the strict adherence to biosecurity measures we are seeing across the industry.’

The BHA’s swift and uncompromising response to the outbreak at first received universal industry support.

However, there has since been dissension in the ranks from highprofile trainers Nigel Twiston-Davies and Colin Tizzard – who voiced their frustration at what they believe is an overreaction to abandon all domestic fixtures for six days.

The BHA statement added: ‘The BHA’s veterinary and race-planning teams are already planning for a variety of scenarios under which racing may recommence. This includes options for rescheduling meetings and races that have been cancelled.

‘We are planning as normal for the Cheltenham Festival.’