EI Crisis Deepens As Further Horses Test Positive

[Wandering Eyes]

More than 170 racing yards in Britain are now on temporary lockdown following a “separate suspicious case” which is yet to be confirmed as equine influenza. However, the unidentified stable at which this case is being dealt with had runners at Newcastle on Tuesday and Wolverhampton on Wednesday, meaning that another 54 stables have closed in addition to the 121 already under suspension.

Furthermore, another three horses at Donald McCain’s stable have returned positive tests for equine influenza, bringing the total number infected so far to six. These include Raise A Spark (GB), who ran at Ayr on Wednesday.

In a statement released on Friday the BHA announced, “Of the samples that have been returned so far, three further positive results for equine influenza have been reported, all from the original affected yard. Of the four horses from this yard who competed at fixtures this week, one has returned a positive sample so far – Raise A Spark, who competed at Ayr on 6 February. The test on this runner relates to a sample taken the following day, and the horse showed no clinical symptoms on raceday.

“It was in anticipation of this risk that the decision was taken by the BHA to restrict movement of horses on a precautionary basis at the yards of 120 other trainers who competed at these fixtures, and to suspend racing until Wednesday at the earliest. This action was taken to mitigate the impact of any of the runners which competed at these fixtures being found to be infected by the virus.”

The 54 racing yards placed in isolation on Friday include the premises of a further 10 trainers in Britain’s largest training centre of Newmarket: Sir Mark Prescott, James Fanshawe, Simon Crisford, Phil McEntee, George Scott, Michael Wigham, Michael Bell, Julia Feilden, James Eustace and Amy Murphy. Major stables around the country to have been added include those of Richard Hannon, Roger Charlton, Karl Burke, Archie Watson, David Evans, David O’Meara, Mick Channon, Richard Fahey and Tom Dascombe.

Jockey Club Estates, which owns the 2,500-acre Newmarket gallops on which around 80 trainers prepare their horses, have made provision for the stables affected by the suspension to exercise horses after midday when the rest of the strings have cleared the heath.

TDN columnist John Berry, who trains in Newmarket and had a runner at Ludlow on Wednesday, meaning that his stable was closed from Thursday, said, “I’m probably not typical because we have few horses in strong work in the winter and wouldn’t be having a runner during the projected six-day hiatus anyway. The majority of the horses here are just in light work and many weeks away from racing, so a slight short-term disruption to our routine is not a major issue. I do realise though that for many of the trainers involved the timing is very unfortunate and it will be creating a lot of headaches for them.”

He added, “Typically, Jockey Club Estates are bending over backwards to help us and are making it very feasible for the trainers involved to get their horses exercised while having no contact with any of the other strings.”

Newmarket is not just famed as a racing and training centre; the town and its outlying villages are also home to many of the country’s major stud farms, including Cheveley Park Stud, Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud, Lanwades Stud, Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud and the National Stud. A week ahead of the start of the covering season, and with a number of early foals on the ground, stud farmers are taking no chances when it comes to protecting stallions, broodmares and young stock.

Tim Lane, manager of the National Stud, told TDN, “We had a meeting yesterday with our vet Huw Neal and all the mares have had booster vaccinations today. We hope that will be enough to protect the young foals who usually aren’t vaccinated until around six months of age but build up their immunity through their mothers. In line with most other stallion operations, we will also not be accepting mares for over unless they have been vaccinated within six months of their visit to one of our stallions.”

Stuart Williamson of Newmarket Equine Hospital is one of a large number of vets, all decked out in protective clothing, involved in taking nasal swabs from horses in the yards under temporary closure.

He said, “We’ve been into plenty of yards today and the swabbing work is continuing throughout today and this evening. We hope to be on top of it all by the end of Saturday morning. We are very much being guided by the BHA and Richard Newton at the Animal Health Trust, who is keeping us updated. There’s no question that it was the right thing to do to stop racing for a short time until we know where we stand with this.”

The BHA is urging continued vigilance as it strives to ensure that racing in Britain can resume.

“The BHA team is working closely with trainers, the NTF and other parts of racing, from who we have had excellent levels of cooperation,” read a statement.

“The Animal Health Trust is processing tests in their hundreds as quickly as possible and, alongside the project team at the BHA, is working throughout the weekend to help build an overall picture of the issue. This process will continue over the coming days in order that an informed and evidence-based decision can be made on Monday as to whether racing can return on Wednesday. In the meantime we ask that everyone involved in the sport continues to be vigilant, restrict where possible all movements of horses and people and maintains the highest standards of biosecurity.”

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