The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed the abandonment of Plumpton Racecourse’s Jumps Season Finale on Sunday 10 May.
This follows a confirmed case of equine influenza and EHV-4 in an unvaccinated non-thoroughbred horse based on a livery yard immediately adjacent to the racecourse.
Equine influenza is highly contagious respiratory disease and can be airborne over reasonable distances and transmitted indirectly to horses, including via people.
The BHA has been working with Plumpton Racecourse and its veterinary team, the livery yard and independent infectious disease experts to monitor the horses and determine the level of risk.
The infected horse, which is isolated on the livery yard, has been tested again and is still actively shedding the virus. At present, no other horses are showing signs of infection.
The cancellation of Sunday’s fixture is therefore a precautionary measure given the very close proximity of the livery yard to the racecourse and particularly the stable area.
This decision has been taken with the unanimous support of the BHA’s independent veterinary group, with a view to restricting the risk of the spread of the disease to the thoroughbred racing herd.
The BHA will now liaise with Plumpton Racecourse to consider whether there is any feasibility for the fixture being rearranged. This will be informed by an ongoing assessment of the level of risk to the horse population and the availability of other opportunities within the wider race programme.
BHA director of Equine Regulation, Safety and Welfare, James Given, said:
“Equine flu is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among horses, including through the air and over a widespread distance, which is why it is essential we take appropriate steps to minimise any risk of onward transmission.
“We appreciate that this news will be disappointing for the racecourse, participants and racegoers, but with a confirmed case in the immediate vicinity and the horse actively shedding the virus, this is a sensible precautionary step to protect individual horses and the wider thoroughbred herd from potential exposure.
“We have also seen a significant recent rise in the number of equine flu outbreaks across the country, in the non-thoroughbred herd. I urge trainers and teams to remain vigilant in their own biosecurity measures and being alert to the signs of infection.”
The BHA recently published updated information for racehorse trainers and racing vets to make them aware about several outbreaks of equine influenza across the UK. These cases, which are being reported via the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) online platform, are in the non-thoroughbred herd but with some occurring in vaccinated horses.
There have been no reported cases or clinical signs of infection within licensed training yards, but we continue to advise extra caution around biosecurity measures to ensure the best possible protection for thoroughbred racehorses.
This includes exercising appropriate vigilance around the movement of horses to and from yards and isolating any new horses entering yards for a period of 14 days and monitoring rectal temperatures of all horses daily.
Trainers and teams should also be alert to the signs of the virus, which include a raised temperature, harsh cough or nasal discharge. Any horse showing these signs should be immediately assessed by a veterinary surgeon.
All horses running in Britain must be vaccinated in line with the Rules of Racing, with booster vaccinations administered at intervals of no more than six months apart. Vaccinations do not always prevent infection but can significantly reduce the severity of infection and the level of viral transmission.
