No UK racing until Wednesday amid lockdown

FROM BACK PAGE trainer Donald McCain’s Cheshire yard.

The 115 stables that had runners at tracks where McCain horses have also been in action during the past week were placed in lockdown by the BHA as yesterday’s four meetings were cancelled.

Racing will not be able to begin again until all horses at those yards are tested.

The BHA’s move to wipe out the weekend action – a total of 17 meetings were due to take place over the next five days – will cause turmoil to trainers’ preparations for the Festival, which starts on March 12.

The testing process for the highly contagious condition was hampered by a shortage of swabs at the Animal Health Trust, which could push back the restart day even further.

A spokesman for the Newmarket-based charity said: “We have been inundated with requests for swabs. We are rationing the number of swab kits we send to each practice.”

Newbury’s Betfair Super Saturday card was due to host the Denman Chase. Musselburgh will sling the doors open for free if racing starts up on Wednesday. The same venue this Sunday is gone, so too Ayr on Tuesday.

Musselburgh general manager Bill Farnsworth said: “We are disappointed but the industry does prepare for scenarios such as these.” BOOKIES pledged “full support” to the BHA’s suspension call amid a shutdown that could cost them millions. Ladbrokes’ Simon Clare said: “The overall health of the sport depends on the wellbeing of the horses who compete at the track, so it’s incumbent on us to see the bigger picture.”