We’re scrupulous about the health of our horses... we would never race any we could have known were infected
RACING IN MELTDOWN HOW IT UNFOLDED SAYS TRAINER DONALD McCAIN
DONALD McCAIN has spent his life accustomed to the spotlight.
His late father Ginger was famous all round the world as the man who trained the great Red Rum to a record three Grand National triumphs in the 1970s.
And McCain Jnr continued the family business by claiming victory in the same race eight years ago as he saddled Ballabriggs to glory.
But the attention that came his way yesterday when he was revealed as the man in the eye of the equine flu storm was something new and unwelcome.
He immediately mounted a sterling defence of his reputation after it emerged three horses at his Bankhouse stables in Cheshire were carrying the highly contagious virus.
News of the positive tests sent racing into meltdown as it was feared McCain’s Raise A Spark and Dry Lightening, who contested races at Ayr and Ludlow on Wednesday, BY DAVID YATES could also be infected. On social media, where the crisis drew comparisons with the foot-andmouth epidemic that claimed the 2001 Cheltenham Festival, McCain was accused of a cavalier attitude to equine health.
But the 48-year-old, who took over from his legendary father in 2006, said: “We are scrupulous about observing the health status of horses in our care and taking THE highly contagious equine flu virus afflicts horses, mules and donkeys.
A horse’s breathing is affected and they also suffer a high temperature, nasal discharge and coughing.
Directly from an affected horse to another through secretions or nasal discharge, via airborne particles, or equipment or contaminated clothing. In the necessary steps to treat any condition that may affect them.
“It follows we would never race any horses we could have known were infected.
“I have been aware of the recent news about equine influenza outbreaks in France and Ireland and over the last couple of days I have been concerned about the health status of a small number of horses in the yard.
“Their welfare is at the front of our minds, so at my request our vaccinated horses usually 24-48 hours although athletic performance can be affected for several weeks. Full recovery can take several months. It can be fatal but deaths are rare.
In the same way not every human who has a flu jab is protected the virus develops in different strains. No. There are no known cases of humans contracting equine flu. veterinary surgeon has examined them regularly and we have followed his advice on testing and treatment.
“It was by following this protocol the positive results for equine flu came to light yesterday evening.”
McCain’s swift action drew praise from the British Horseracing Authority whose director of equine health and welfare David Sykes said: “We would like to thank Donald McCain for his co-operation in this matter and for the responsible manner in which he has dealt with this issue. He has acted professionally with the interests of the racing industry and the health of his horses as his priority.”
A total of 115 stables who have fielded runners against McCaintrained horses over the past week are now in lockdown – pending the results of swab tests for equine flu – with racing suspended until Wednesday at the earliest.
British-based horses have also been banned from competing in Ireland – the Warren Greatrexsaddled mare La Bague Au Roi was in winning action at Leopardstown’s Dublin Festival on Sunday – until further notice by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and Horse Racing Ireland.
But fears equine flu could have been taken back to Ireland by runners sent to Ayr on Wednesday by Gordon Elliott were allayed.
The County Meath handler said: “The horses we ran at Ayr never came back to our yard and instead went to a non-racing isolation yard.”
EQUINE FLU FACTSHEET