Wolverhampton Races cancels Saturday meeting amid equine flu outbreak
Wolverhampton Races has cancelled it meeting on Saturday amid the outbreak of equine flu that has seen horse racing called off across the country today.
Bosses at Dunstall Park announced the move to abandon the Saturday evening meeting as the probe into the outbreak was being investigated today.
British Horseracing Authority chiefs are due to make a further announcement on the situation this evening.
However, in a statement on Twitter this morning, Wolverhampton Races said: "Following today’s announcement by the BHA Saturday's meeting is cancelled we will be working with BHA and Animal Health Trust to make sure that our racecourses take every measure to maintain high levels of biosecurity."
The racecourse said anyone who had made bookings for Saturday's meeting would be fully reimbursed.
Saturday was due to be a highlight of the racing calendar with Dunstall Park billing the event as a circus-themed raceday with fun events including stilt-walker, fire-breathers, a magician and jugglers.
Tests revealed equine influenza in horses at Ludlow and Ayr yesterday and the authority took the decision late last night to call off today's racing.
The horses involved come from the same yard - which has not yet been identified although it was reported that Donald McCain's yard was the only one represented at both tracks.
The BHA said identification of the virus in vaccinated animals presented a "cause for significant concern".
Equine influenza is a highly infectious disease of horses, mules and donkeys. Symptoms in non-immune animals include high fever, coughing and nasal discharge.
The virus can cause serious damage to animals' respiratory systems and can prove fatal in some cases.
It can be carried some distance through the air and can be passed on via humans.
A spokesman for Arena Racing Company which operates Wolverhampton Racecourse said the decision to call off Saturday's meeting was made in the light of a request to deep-clean equine areas of the course in light of the outbreak elsewhere.
He said: "It was not a request specific to Wolverhampton. After every race meeting it is a requirement to to do deep cleaning of the equine areas.
"In this instance the BHA have asked Wolverhampton to undertake a deep clean and this has not allowed them to use the stables area for a certain amount of time afterwards.
"With a normal fixture list, there is enough time to do this and get it dry afterwards.
"However, at the moment, with racing due on Saturday, there just isn't the time to get the work done and dried in time."
