Mark Costello
ONLY racehorses who have received a recent vaccine for equine influenza which contains Clade 1 virus cover will be allowed to race in Ireland from Monday week, February 18th.
As there is a mandatory six-day stand-down period after vaccination, horses who currently do not have the appropriate vaccination and are being aimed at races at Punchestown on February 20th will need veterinary attention by next Tuesday.
The regulation was issued after 5pm yesterday by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board [IHRB], following a frenetic 48-hour period which has seen all British racing shutdown for at least six days.
An equine flu outbreak in the stables of Grand National winning trainer Donald McCain led to that drastic action being taken when it was discovered that horses from his yard had been to three race meetings this week before the outbreak was discovered.
The decision to stop racing was taken shortly before midnight on Wednesday and testing is currently taking place at 120 training yards all around Britain. A total of six McCain horses have tested positive and there is one ‘suspicious’ case at an unidentified yard.
Three Irish trainers, including Gordon Elliott, also had runners at the British meetings where McCain had runners but the authorities here say that the risk to the Irish thoroughbred population is no greater than before.
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, has defended the decision to allow racing to continue in Ireland despite a number of horses testing positive for equine flu in this country this week.
Kavanagh said: “Our assessment shows that the risks associated with continuing to race are manageable. Key to this was the early action by the British Horseracing Authority on advising Irish trainers with runners at Ludlow and Ayr on Wednesday of the situation which enabled the IHRB to work with the trainers to ensure the horses were isolated to mitigate risk of them spreading infection.
“We are also taking the advice of the Irish Equine Centre [IEC] who are working closely with the IHRB on risk levels. The situation is obviously evolving on a day to day basis and the IHRB are working with the racecourses and the trainers to ensure as safe an environment for racing as possible.”
The IEC in Johnstown, Co Kildare offers free testing of swabs and blood samples for equine flu. Ann Cullinane, Head of Virology at the IEC, reported: “In the last four days we received over 100 nasal swabs from 24 premises and are inundated with calls from vets, trainers and horse owners.
“Several nasal swabs tested positive this week. Some were from new premises but others are from previously confirmed premises where voluntary movement restrictions and virological monitoring have been implemented.”
Meanwhile the IHRB reiterated that racing will continue in Ireland with enhanced measures as follows:
• • In order to be eligible to race, horses must have received a vaccine for equine influenza which contains Clade 1 virus within eight weeks of their race.
• • This updated MANDATORY vaccination requirement is to be implemented under Rule 91 with effect from Monday, February 18th.
• • After this date horses will only be able to enter racecourse stables and race having had the appropriate vaccine within the previous eight weeks.
• • It is advised that trainers and handlers take action IMMEDIATELY to comply with this in order to be able to race six clear days after vaccination.
• • IHRB veterinary Officers and assistants will be carrying out veterinary inspections with increased scrutiny at the entrance to racecourse stables on all horses.
• • Trainers and handlers are advised that if any horse shows any sign of respiratory disease they will not be allowed to enter racecourse stables or race.
• • Trainers are strongly advised to check their runners close to travel to include taking their temperature to ensure that they are fit to race.
• • Runners from Britain will not be permitted to race in Ireland until further notice.