LET’S GET RACING BACK ON

Trainers want swift end to horse flu shutdown

The BhA were under growing pressure to restart racing tomorrow as their veterinary committee met last night to discuss the equine influenza crisis.

Racing’s ruling body announced a six-day shutdown of the sport last Wednesday after three horses tested positive for the highly contagious virus at the Cheshire stable of Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain (below).

A total of six horses have now tested positive at the McCain yard and they were joined late on Sunday by four in the Newmarket stable of trainer Simon Crisford.

But there was a growing clamour last night for the BhA to come up with a strategy that would allow at least a partial resumption.

Trainers including Nigel Twiston-Davies and Colin Tizzard have questioned the BhA strategy, and prominent owner Dai Walters claimed they had ‘lit a fire they can’t put out’.

Authorities in Ireland, where there have been flu outbreaks but not in active racing yards, have lifted a temporary ban imposed on runners from Britain.

The veterinary committee could sanction a restart while keeping in lockdown some stables considered at particular risk. The infected stables of Crisford and McCain face prolonged closure.

Around 700 tests a day are being conducted, with the Animal health Trust prioritising horses considered most at risk. That includes the stables that had runners last Wednesday at Ayr, where McCain’s Raise A Spark ran and subsequently tested positive.

The positive tests at Crisford’s stable have placed British Flat racing on high alert. It is potentially a more serious outbreak than at McCain’s self-contained stable, because Crisford works in the heart of Newmarket and close to the famous training grounds. his horses have now been isolated.

Crisford’s stable had been identified for testing because he ran Sajanjl at Newcastle on February 5, a meeting which subsequently produced a ‘suspicious’ but ultimately negative test for a runner from the Rebecca Menzies stable.

however, it was four stablemates, rather than Sajanjl, which tested positive.

Crisford said: ‘None of the four horses that have returned positive tests for equine influenza displayed any clinical signs of respiratory illness, including nasal discharge and elevated temperatures, prior to the mandatory swabbing that was undertaken last Friday.

‘ The swabbing occurred following Sajanjl’s race at Newcastle last Tuesday and she has tested negative. There is no obvious connection between Sajanjl and the four identified horses.

‘All horses at Kremlin house Stables, totalling 92 boxes, undergo a strict vaccination check and programme on their arrival. All four identified horses have been vaccinated within the last six months, along with the rest of the yard and in line with protocol.’

In a statement, the BHA said: ‘Newmarket is an important centre for racing, as well as a hub for the breeding industry.

‘The BHA is particularly mindful of the potential consequences of the handling of this outbreak for the breeding industry. We are working with the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and wider Newmarket community to attempt to contain the issue.’ DYNAMITE DOLLARS, one of the favourites for next month’s Arkle Trophy, has been ruled out of the Cheltenham race through injury. The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year- old had been a 7-1 shot.