The British Horseracing Authority is concerned to hear Foot and Mouth Disease has been confirmed in Wanborough, Surrey and hopes that the impact on the farming community can be kept to a minimum.

Horses are not affected by the farm animal movement restrictions which have been imposed nationally by DEFRA and we envisage no immediate impact on racing as no racecourse lies within the exclusion or surveillance zone – all race meetings go ahead as planned.

Licensed trainers within the 3km exclusion zone are prevented from moving their animals and therefore will not be able to have any runners under DEFRA’s movement restrictions.

As a precaution, the British Horseracing Authority instructs any licensed trainer within 10kms of the infected premises (inside the surveillance zone) not to move horses to the racecourse until a decision has been taken on any necessary bio security measures.

We are in discussions with the Turf Club and France Galop and will update trainers, through Weatherbys, as soon as we know the position on horses based in Britain running in France and Ireland.

We are closely monitoring developments and keeping racing’s stakeholders updated.

Notes for Editors:

DEFRA’s Foot and Mouth Order that was issued yesterday and includes a map of the exclusion and surveillance zones can be viewed at www.defra.gov.uk

For further information please call Paul Struthers, PR Manager, on 07966 590105.