Saturday, April 12, 2003
NO VALUE BETTING COLUMN TODAY
There is unfortunately no Value Betting Column today (Saturday, April 12)because of the lack of suitable opportunities. The ground has changed in jump racing making prediction difficult while the Flat season is just getting going, with too few clues available.
NEWMARKET SAFER THAN OTHER COURSES FOR FLU
Based on the assumption that the current equine flu outbreak is restricted to Newmarket, Newmarket Racecourse is keen to stress that it can claim, with some justification, to be as safe an environment - or, indeed, safer - for horses trained outside Newmarket than any other British racecourse.
This is because its racecourse stables are entirely isolated, a mile away from the Rowley Mile and July Course, and no locally trained horses go anywhere near them. At all other British racecourses, every runner is stabled in the main racecourse stables and non-Newmarket horses would be in close proximity to Newmarket-trained horses for several hours.
At Newmarket, locally trained horses are taken straight to the course by trainers in time for their race and therefore only come into contact with other horses in the immediate pre- and post-race period.
"Strangely enough, Newmarket Racecourse is at least as safe, and probably safer, than any other course in Britain for a trainer who is worrying about his horses catching the flu virus," said Peter Webbon, the Jockey Club's Senior Veterinary Officer, today.
Newmarket's Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser, commented: “Clear guidelines have been given to trainers by the National Trainers' Federation as to what they should do to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.
“We visited Sir Michael Stoute's stables on Tuesday and watched his string work on the gallops.
“Although he has had a small number of cases of flu in his yard - about four horses affected, I believe - all the many horses we saw looked in tremendous shape and he had a winner from his first runner the next day.
“I think this is a good indication that the spread of the virus can be contained if the guidelines are followed.”
THE PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT FLU OUTBREAK SLOWS DOWN
Officials at the Animal Health Trust on Friday confirmed there have been no new cases of equine flu in Newmarket for the last 24 hours, leaving 14 yards still affected by the virus.
The Trust have also asked trainers to send in tissue for analysis if they feel their horses are suffering and confirmed there will be no charge for the service during the current outbreak.
“Because the information from this outbreak is vital to the racing industry the Trust is doing all the sampling free of charge,” said spokeswoman Jan Wade. “So far the cost to the Trust is £50,000.”
The outbreak began on March 13 and quickly spread around the town, the headquarters of the British thoroughbred industry.
“It appears to have spread quicker than other outbreaks but has been mild compared to others,” said Mrs Wade.
“The horses don't get very sick. It's just a case of coughing and a nasal discharge in the main. The shedding period is a few days.
“We are working very closely with vaccine manufacturers together with human flu experts to try and pinpoint why this problem has occurred.”
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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