Horse racing gets back on track

RACING could have been postponed for a ‘further period of at least a week’ had stringent new vaccination requirements not been imposed, the British Horseracing Authority has said.

It was a condition of racing resuming today following the enforced six-day shutdown due to equine flu that in order for a horse to fulfil an entry, it must have had the relevant vaccination within six months of the race in question.

Any horse having a new vaccination cannot run for seven days.

That has led to a raft of complaints from some trainers, while others are not as badly affected.

Announcing additional opportunities for trainers needing to prepare horses for the upcoming spring festivals, the BHA said in a statement: “The BHA has announced that it intends to schedule additional alternative races to assist trainers in their preparation for upcoming major festivals for horses that may miss out on essential prep or qualifying runs in the coming 10 days owing to the new vaccination requirements.

“The additional opportunities will be scheduled on or around the weekend of February 23, in order that horses which require vaccinations over the coming days will be eligible to run. Like all other British races, they will only be available to horses who have been vaccinated within the last six months.

“It was agreed that, if racing was to return, there should be stringent biosecurity measures put in place.”

Although racing has returned, there are no 48-hour declarations for Thursday’s racing, which is why there are no racecards for tomorrow in today’s Examiner.

Normal service will return later this week.