British trainers warned to be vigilant amid surge in cases of equine flu

British Horseracing Authority’s email sent to all trainers aims to reduce the risk of a shutdown, as happened in 2019

The British Horseracing Authority has emailed all British trainers to underline the need for vigilance during a surge in equine flu, to prevent any possibility of a shutdown of racing, as reported cases of the disease rise in the general horse population.

An outbreak of equine flu led to a six-day shutdown in February 2019, when a total of 23 meetings were cancelled. It was the most significant suspension of racing since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001, which forced the abandonment of more than 100 meetings including the Cheltenham Festival.