Encouraging test results could signal racing return

OFFICIALS at the British Horseracing Authority are planning to make a decision on this evening as to whether racing can resume this week following the six-day shutdown due to an outbreak of equine flu.

With upwards of 700 tests processed by the Animal Health Trust on Sunday, all results have been negative prompting the BHA’s director of equine health and welfare David Sykes to say the “data is encouraging”.

However, with the AHT receiving several thousand samples from yards that could potentially have come into contact with the highly contagious virus, the analysis is still ongoing.

The BHA says “a pragmatic and evidence-led approach is being adopted” in order to make a decision if racing can swing back into action as hoped on Wednesday, with a prioritisation plan for testing in place.

That plan places emphasis on the “the proximity of horses to a positive test, or to a yard returning a positive test” with swabs continuing to be collected and tested, with some being “fast tracked”.

The BHA also says “a specific plan is being formed as to what the clearance process will be for individual yards to return to racing”.

Sykes said: “The data is encouraging and provides a further indication that the precautionary safety measures have helped to contain the spread of disease.

“However, the picture is still developing and it remains the case that we will make an evidence-based decision about the situation on Monday.

“It remains paramount that, for the sake of our horse population, we do not take any unnecessary risks. This is not a common cold, it is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease.

“The prioritisation exercise with regards to testing will help deliver a detailed picture of the spread of infection.

“Targeted testing, alongside the wide survey of data we have already gathered, will help provide a clear picture as to the scale of the spread of the disease.

“Any decision will include guidance and input from veterinary experts, including the industry’s veterinary committee.

“We are also working through the process that will be followed in order to give specific yards the all clear to resume racing.

“This will balance the clear need for yards to resume business as soon as possible with ensuring that we do not put horses at the risk of unnecessary harm. We are liaising with the National Trainers Federation and trainers on this process.”

The BHA confirmed all horses from the stable of Rebecca Menzies have now tested negative, although the yard remains under under close surveillance.

So far only six positive tests have been returned with all horses trained by Donald McCain, who originally raised the alarm, prompting an immediate halt to all British action.