© Photo Healy Racing
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has issued a stringent set of protocols in advance of the proposed return of horse racing behind closed doors on June 1.
The detailed document published by the BHA is broadly similar to the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) document released last weekend but appears to go even further in a number of key areas.
Included in the BHA document is a request for trainers to avoid sending difficult or fractious horses to the races.
Trainers are therefore asked to consider not entering horses during initial resumption should they fall into any of the categories set out below.
• Needle shy
• Can't be tied up
• Unruly in pre-race
• Unruly at start
• Difficult loaders (noting that only 2 pushers per horse will initially be permitted)
• Difficult loaders (horsebox)
• Kickers/biters/difficult in Sampling Unit
• ANY signs of skin disease
• Any horse that has suffered Heat Stress (Post Race Ataxia)
• Horses requiring a traveller/companion
• Difficult to shoe
Any horse showing unhelpful behaviour will not be allowed to enter again until further notice.
A maximum of two stalls handlers will be allowed to push a horse into the stalls.
The BHA are requiring all horses to have their head, neck and muzzle area washed prior to leaving the trainer’s yard to reduce potential transfer of virus to staff and handlers.
The horsebox must also be disinfected before and after each transport to a racecourse.
The majority of people in attendance at a UK meeting will be required to wear face masks and as this includes trainers and stabe staff all licensed trainers will be issued with an allocation of 10 reusable face coverings free of charge.
You can read the full BHA protocols document HERE
The BHA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Brant Dunshea, said
“Racing has been able to develop its guidelines based on our experience of operating bio-secure environments to control the spread of infection in horses, and a robust approach to regulation and enforcing the rules. Our trainers, jockeys and staff carry out their roles in a highly disciplined way because working with horses always carries risks. I am very confident they will adapt quickly to this new set of measures designed to protect them from transmission of the virus.”
