BHB and Jockey Club Reaction to the Decision That No Irish Trained Horses Will be Sent to Race In Britain

Published: 1 March 2001

The BHB and Jockey Club are naturally deeply disappointed to hear the news that the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association has decided to advise against sending Irish trained horses to race here.

Paul Greeves, Racing Director of BHB, said today “Tomorrow we will be publishing our Instructions and Guidelines, a series of thorough and additional precautions for use in the staging of racing, being developed jointly by BHB, Jockey Club and MAFF veterinary officers. We had hoped that sight of these would have reassured Irish trainers.

“Plans continue to enable racing to resume on Wednesday. The criteria for a racecourse staging a meeting, whether it is Lingfield or Cheltenham, are the same. Providing the racecourse is not within a designated Infected Area, and providing that the racecourse meets the Instructions laid down by BHB and the Jockey Club with regards to the disinfectant measures, there is no reason for racing not to take place.

“These plans are supported by Government who continue to confirm that staging racing presents a very small risk of spreading the disease. As soon as these additional measures are in place, even that small risk will be reduced to negligible.

“The Instructions and Guidelines will be published tomorrow, and will cover everyone and everything involved in racing, both on race days and non racedays.”

For further information please contact:

John Maxse, Jockey Club: 0207 935 7074 or 07785 243232
Alan Delmonte, BHB: 0207 343 3318 or 07931 701536