Racing impacted by Equine Influenza outbreak

No doubt you will have read or heard about the cancellation of racing today (7th February) in Britain.

This is a direct result of a positive test for Equine Influenza (EI) on three horses at an 'active' racing yard. This yard had runners at both meetings held yesterday at Ayr and Ludlow.
None of the runners from the impacted yard were tested positively for EI.

All thoroughbred racing horses in Britain receive annual health checks and (booster) vaccinations against infections such as EI. The worrying aspect in this case is that the EI positive test was found in a vaccinated thoroughbred horse.
EI is highly contagious, transmitted both by horses and humans - even by being in the same vicinity.

Dodlands Stables had 3 runners at Ayr yesterday, and following contact from the BHA we are following their (and our veterinarian) advice regarding health checks, movement of horses and restriction on visitors to our yard.
The majority of National Hunt trainers in Scotland were represented at Ayr yesterday, and numerous trainers throughout the country will be impacted when you start to include Ludlow.

Decisions are to be taken later on this evening by the BHA regarding racing on Friday and the weekend. And further into the month..............

Ayr yesterday summary

Not such a good day at Ayr for the stable yesterday, even prior to the above announcement from the BHA.

Paper Promise probably ran the best of our unplaced trio, racing prominently until outpaced from 2 out.