The British Horseracing Authority has issued an urgent email to all licensed trainers in the United Kingdom, emphasising the critical need for heightened vigilance amid a significant surge in equine influenza cases across the general horse population. The move is designed to mitigate any potential risk of a widespread shutdown of racing, similar to the six-day suspension that occurred in February 2019, when 23 meetings were cancelled due to an outbreak of the disease.
That 2019 shutdown represented the most substantial interruption to British racing since the foot-and-mouth disease crisis in 2001, which forced the abandonment of over 100 fixtures, including the Cheltenham Festival. The current surge has seen more counties reporting equine flu cases than in 2019, though crucially, no infections have yet been detected in licensed racing yards.
The BHA’s communication stresses that the primary threat to thoroughbreds in training comes from exposure to sick horses or those shedding the flu virus. This risk is heightened when horses of unknown disease or vaccination status are in close proximity, such as when a new horse enters a yard or during mixing at non-racing events like shows. Consequently, the Authority insists that all horses brought into licensed yards must be vaccinated and properly isolated for a 14-day period, with daily monitoring for signs of infection.
Vaccination against equine flu is mandatory for all thoroughbreds in licensed yards, with booster shots required every six months. The BHA has already taken the precautionary step of cancelling the remainder of the hunter-chase season, including the popular fixture scheduled for Stratford next Friday that traditionally marks the end of the point-to-point season. This decision followed a restriction on racecourse access for horses from non-licensed yards, where vaccination is not compulsory.
The Authority has also indicated that it is exploring ways to ensure the ban does not affect the traditional Royal procession before racing at Royal Ascot in June. In its email, the BHA acknowledged that these actions have disappointed some stakeholders, but emphasised that all decisions are grounded in scientific evidence and extensive consultation with independent, world-renowned experts in infectious disease management and control.
Weekend racing preview
Meanwhile, the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday is shaping up as a highly competitive sprint, with nine of the 13 runners priced between 5-1 and 12-1. The rapidly improving Jakajaro, a handicap winner at York earlier this month, offers excellent each-way value at around 9-1. Trainer Robert Cowell is renowned for his skill in moving sprinters through the ranks, and the five-year-old impressed at York despite a high draw and giving weight to all but one rival. The performance was backed by a strong time, and while the quick turnaround is a slight concern, Cowell evidently believes his gelding has recovered well.
At Goodwood, Cool Molly, who has won four of six starts on the all-weather this year, ran a fine race on her belated turf debut at Chester earlier in June. She possesses the right draw and running style for this track and trip. In the 1.45 at Haydock, the progressive Dreamasar stands out as an interesting each-way alternative at around 16-1, with the two runners boasting proven Group One quality facing questions.
Saturday tips from Greg Wood
- Goodwood: 1.25 Cool Molly, 2.00 Golden Story, 2.35 Wondervision, 3.10 Earth Shot, 3.45 Evening Fades, 4.20 Finalise, 4.55 One And Gone
- York: 1.30 Kats Bob, 2.05 Cuban Heels, 2.40 King Of Light, 3.15 Danielle, 3.50 Moscow Power, 4.25 Bridge Of Eagles, 5.00 Signcastle City
- Cartmel: 1.35 Getaway Vic, 2.10 Belle Le Grand, 2.43 Starlyte, 3.20 Half A Chance, 3.55 Loup De Maulde, 4.30 Halfway House Lad, 5.05 Zumbi
- Haydock: 1.45 Dreamasar, 2.20 Blue Courvoisier (nb), 2.58 Division, 3.30 Jakajaro (nap), 4.05 Hermetic, 4.40 Noble Vow, 5.15 Miami Matrix
- Bangor-on-Dee: 1.50 Ladies Day, 2.25 Bobbarelli, 3.00 Copper Beach, 3.32 Supreme George, 4.10 Mars Harper, 4.45 Camshaft, 5.20 Magnifix Du Moulin
- Windsor: 4.57 Moonhall Lass, 5.30 Greek Street, 6.00 Perigord Noir, 6.30 Legacy Rock, 7.00 Marengo Storm, 7.30 Naughty Niall, 8.00 Proposal, 8.30 Von Dutch
- Salisbury: 5.45 My Maria, 6.15 Great Dream, 6.45 Golden Brown, 7.15 Cinque Verde, 7.45 Mojito, 8.15 Mayaada, 8.45 Shayhana
Golden Story, who ran well in the Dee Stakes despite being no match for Constitution River, is a big price at around 7-2 to defeat John Gosden’s unbeaten Derby entry Saxon Street in the 2.00 at Goodwood. At Haydock, Clive Cox seeks a third win in eight runnings of a strong three-year-old handicap, with Blue Courvoisier, from a low draw and with Lauren Young’s 5lb claim, potentially his best chance. King Of Light may benefit from a single-figure draw in a tight sprint handicap at York, while Division, half a length behind Coppull at Ascot last time despite a slow start, is a fair price at 11-4 to reverse that form. Danielle should have a straightforward return to action at York, and Gstaad, who was eight lengths clear of Distant Storm behind Bow Echo in the 2000 Guineas, faces weaker opposition in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Finally, the unexposed Hermetic could prove another shrewd purchase for Ian Williams, stepping back up to two miles at Haydock.
