Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Musselburgh are taking cancellation on the chin
OFFICIALS at Musselburgh are philosophical over the loss of their richest jumps meeting on Sunday after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced there would be no racing until next Wednesday at the earliest due to an outbreak of equine flu.
It was a second blow to the Edinburgh course as the meeting had been rescheduled after it was lost to the weather last weekend.
Musselburgh general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “We are, naturally, disappointed at losing our richest jumps racing fixture this weekend but the racing community is working together to minimise the spread of equine influenza. The decision by the BHA to cancel racing is, without doubt, the correct one.
“The industry does prepare for scenarios such as these and I am confident the stringent procedures in place across the UK will ensure racing is back and up running as soon as it is safe to do so.
“A decision will be taken on Monday by the BHA as to when racing will resume and, if our next meeting scheduled for Wednesday goes ahead as planned, there will be free admission for all.”
Newbury, where the Betfair Hurdle was the feature race tomorrow, was the most highprofile card to be lost.
However, at this time of year racecourses are used to fixtures being abandoned, usually due to a cold snap.
Newbury’s communications head Harriet Collins said: “While it is very disappointing to lose Betfair Super Saturday, which is always well-attended by racing fans, equine welfare comes first and we take complete guidance from the BHA on such matters.
“Unfortunately, we are a sport which is prone to adverse weather and abandonments happen slightly more frequently over the winter.
“As a result, we have put in the necessary contingencies ahead of racing so insurances are in place and all our ticket purchasers will be receiving notification they will be refunded within the next 14 days.”
The planned meeting at Wolverhampton tomorrow was abandoned before the BHA announcement because a horse from the infected yard was a runner on Monday’s card.
“The BHA asked Wolverhampton to undertake a deep clean of their stables. There are protocols in place where when you have done a deep clean, you have to leave the stables for a certain amount of time. It’s four days before you can use them,” said Sam Cone, Arena Racecourse’s PR and communications manager.
This outbreak has come just five weeks before the Cheltenham Festival, the biggest betting meeting of the year and, while the bookmakers can absorb a short period of inaction, a longer break would sound alarm bells.
“If racing resumed next Wednesday, it would be frustrating but it wouldn’t be a disaster. Beyond that, it’s hard to speculate,” said David Stevens, of Coral.
Milnathort-based trainer Lucinda Russell said: “All of the horses under our care are being closely monitored and their temperatures taken three times a day. Rigorous biosecurity measures have been put in place.”