Equine Influenza Impact

There are two jumps meetings today at Huntingdon this afternoon and Hexham this evening but the stable does not have any runners.  There are three flat meetings at Newcastle, Nottingham and Lingfield while in Ireland there is flat action at Cork.  Yesterday the news broke that the hunter chase at Huntingdon's meeting today would be the last one of the season with the BHA cancelling all remaining hunter chases, including the big finals day at Stratford at the end of the month.  This comes as a result of the equine influenza outbreak which seems to be rising in numbers.  While it is currently only been reported in non-thoroughbreds the experts are concerned that it could spread further and are taking this measure to ensure that racing is not impacted.

Pony racing as also been suspended, and while yesterday I was writing about the joys of Jack's weekend success and him very much looking forward to Chepstow at the end of the month, this will now not be happening.  Point to pointers and ponies have to be vaccinated twice a year like racehorses so therefor they pose no immediate extra risk but what the authorities are worried about is that these horses and ponies could be living and mixing with horses and ponies that are not so well vaccinated in the wider community and therefore there is a danger of it spreading.  From now on, only horses from licensed BHA yards will be allowed to be on racecourse property on race days.  It also means that ex-racehorse parades and family fun days where ponies might be on the course, will all be cancelled.  While not ideal, it just shows you how serious this matter is.  Back in 2019 racing was stopped for six days following an outbreak of flu at Donald McCain's yard and went it returned there were strict protocols in place and the 6 monthly vaccinations were introduced.  

There are not many weeks of the point to pointing season left so you could say it is not a bad time for this to happen but I know lots of people would be planning to run at Stratford and there was due to be another hunter chase at Newton Abbot coming up.  Point to pointing is allowed to continue however and hopefully that can keep things going until the end of the season.  The Pony Racing Authority is working with the BHA to see how and when pony racing might be able to resume but it is too early to say at this stage.  We are quite lucky to have got that run in for Jack at Bangor and hopefully things might settle down in the coming weeks for everything to return as normal.  Royal Ascot is just around the corner and there are concerns about the Royal procession and how this ban could affect that but they are working on measures to allow this to happen as well.  Fingers crossed things start to settle relatively quickly and can return to normal.

Arsenal won 1-0 at home to Burnley last night and surely they will be Premier League champions.  Manchester City must win away to Bournemouth this evening to keep their slim hopes alive but anything less than a win will mean that Arsenal will be crowned Champions this evening.  They are five points clear of City having played a game more.  Spurs are also in action this evening away at Chelsea at 8.15pm.  A win for them would guarantee Premiership survival but a loss or draw would give West Ham a glimmer of hope.

As I handed my dad his 50yh birthday card, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said: 

"You know...one would've been enough".

Have a good day!