CHELTENHAM UNDER THREAT AGAIN Next month`s rescheduled Cheltenham Festival is under threat from foot-and-mouth disease again after a new outbreak was confirmed five miles (8 kms) from the course. The case, in the village of Woolstone, is almost 10 miles from the nearest infected farm. Cheltenham`s managing director Edward Gillespie said today 'There is a confirmed case at Woolstone which is five miles north west of the track. 'I understand prompt action is being taken and that the sheep are due to be slaughtered this afternoon.' No decision will be made on the future of the rearranged meeting, due to be staged on April 17-19, until later this weekend. Gillespie said the matter was in the hands of the British Horseracing Board which was waiting for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods (MAFF) to redraw the map of the infected area in Gloucestershire. 'It`s a question of whether we are in the infected area or not. No decision has been made yet about the Festival but this latest outbreak is of great concern,' Gillespie added. However, a MAFF spokeswoman said: 'If sensible precautions are taken in the restriction zone, horse racing does not present a great risk.'
