Eight Additional Racecourses Given Go-aheadto Race From 3rd May

Published: 23 April 2001

Eight racecourses which cannot stage fixtures within the current BHB/Jockey Club Instructions and Guidelines have been given clearance in principle to resume racing from Thursday 3rd May.

They are:
Date of next programmed fixture
(from 3rd May onwards)
Wolverhampton 3rd May
Sedgefield 4th May
Hexham 5th May
Thirsk 5th May
Newcastle 7th May
Worcester 12th May
Stratford 18th May
Cheltenham 30th October

Further details are attached at Annex A to this release

Revised Instructions and Guidelines

BHB and the Jockey Club, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), have revised the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Instructions and Guidelines for the Racing Industry, which were issued in early March. The key revision relates to the movement of horses from stables within 1km of a premises declared infected within the previous 30 days. BHB and the Jockey Club are today sending the revised Instructions and Guidelines, with a detailed advice note, to all licensed and permitted trainers.

The revised Instructions and Guidelines become effective for entries made on and after Wednesday 25th April 2001 and for fixtures staged on and after Monday 30th April 2001.

Further details are attached at Annex B to this release

BHB Secretary-General Tristram Ricketts said today: “We are delighted to be able to announce an increase in opportunities for racing within MAFF-endorsed guidelines. The prospect of the reintroduction of fixtures at eight racecourses, starting at Wolverhampton on 3rd May, will be welcomed throughout the industry and is consistent with the Government’s determined efforts to open up the countryside wherever it is safe to do so.

“Racing’s continued commitment to responsible action has reflected great credit on all participants in the industry. We remain in close liaison with MAFF and, on their recommendation, are introducing a further refinement of our procedures relating to the movement of horses from stables within a kilometre of a premises declared infected within the previous 30 days.

“We are proceeding with the implementation of the new arrangements as speedily as is practicable. Resuming racing at the eight courses from 3rd May gives owners and trainers time to take account of the increased racing opportunities when formulating running plans for their horses, as well as enabling the racecourses concerned to promote the fixtures locally.

“The industry will also have time to familiarise itself with the revised Instructions and Guidelines in the short period before they take effect. In view of the fact that restrictions resulting from FMD are likely to be with us for some time, Racing must and will remain vigilant. There will be no relaxation of the rigorous inspection procedures of racecourses and the requirements for trainers that are already in place.”

For further information, contact:

Alan Delmonte, BHB, 020 7343 3318
John Maxse, The Jockey Club, 020 7935 7074

Eight racecourses which cannot stage fixtures within the current BHB/Jockey Club Instructions and Guidelines have been given clearance in principle to resume racing from Thursday 3rd May. This date has been selected specifically to give owners and trainers time to take account of the increased racing opportunities when formulating running plans for their horses, as well as enabling the racecourses concerned to promote the fixtures locally.

BHB agreed on 11th April to establish criteria on which to make a decision as to which additional racecourses could be allowed to race.

Criteria

 No racecourse may stage a fixture if it is within 3km, as measured by Ordnance Survey grid references, of an FMD-infected premises.
 This restriction will apply for at least 30 days from the outbreak after which the situation will be reviewed in conjunction with MAFF.
 In conducting such a review, BHB will also have regard to the number of confirmed FMD outbreaks further than 3km away, and the time elapsed since those cases were confirmed.

In the light of these assessments, a decision will be made as to whether the racecourse may resume.

None of the eight courses below are within 3km of an infected premises and fulfil the criteria:

Date of next programmed fixture
(from 3rd May onwards)
Wolverhampton 3rd May
Sedgefield 4th May
Hexham 5th May
Thirsk 5th May
Newcastle 7th May
Worcester 12th May
Stratford 18th May
Cheltenham 30th October

The following five courses are at present within 3km of an infected premises so cannot race:

Carlisle
Cartmel
Catterick
Chepstow
Uttoxeter

Note: In addition, Ludlow (disinfection procedures) and Towcester (livestock on the course) at present continue to be unable to meet other aspects of the Instructions and Guidelines.

ANNEX B

Revised Instructions and Guidelines

BHB and the Jockey Club, in consultation with MAFF, have revised the FMD Instructions and Guidelines for the Racing Industry, which were issued in early March. Their purpose continues to be to prevent any possible spread of Foot and Mouth Disease by any person, horse or vehicle entering or leaving a racecourse at a race meeting.

They draw on the practical experience gained since the implementation of the measures in March and make “best practice” recommendations in a number of areas, such as those relating to the type of disinfection methods.

They also refine some of the procedures which have been responsibly and successfully implemented by Racing.

The revised Instructions and Guidelines become effective for entries made on and after Wednesday 25th April 2001 and for fixtures staged on and after Monday 30th April 2001.

Movement of Horses From Stables

One key refinement of the Instructions and Guidelines, concerning the movement of horses from stables located within 1km of a premises declared infected within the previous 30 days, has been made in response to the latest advice from MAFF, which in all respects endorses the actions taken by Racing to date. This is reproduced on the next page.

It is appreciated by BHB and the Jockey Club that MAFF’s new restrictions bring a further challenge to the process of maintaining racing, but the signs are that the FMD outbreak is subsiding and so the effect will diminish as time goes by.

4.6 MOVEMENT OF HORSES FROM YARDS WHICH ARE WITHIN 1KM OF INFECTED PREMISES

a) Horses from a yard within 1km of any infected premises (i.e. a premises on which Foot and Mouth Disease has been confirmed by MAFF) may not enter property owned, used or controlled by the Managing Executive of a racecourse for 30 days after the date of confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease on the infected premises.
b) There is no restriction on other movement of horses within 1km of infected premises, but trainers must follow Section 4.2 of the Instructions and Guidelines for the Racing Industry.
c) If a horse being trained in a yard which is within 1km of an infected premises changes trainers, or moves temporarily to the yard of another licensed trainer it will remain ineligible to enter racecourse property unless:

(i) 72 hours have elapsed since the horse left the establishment.
(ii)