Disinfection procedures to remain Racing`s continued vigilance over foot and mouth is to be maintained by the British Horseracing Board and the Jockey Club. Indications from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are that, while foot and mouth is under control, the outbreak is not over and there remains a risk of flare-ups such as that suffered earlier this month around the Settle area in North Yorkshire. Therefore, tried-and-tested measures introduced by racing`s authorities are set to continue. These measures, which have been in force since racing resumed after its seven-day suspension soon after the initial outbreak, include disinfectant procedures at racecourses and involving trainers, transporters and those attending meetings. Courses which fall within protection zones (within 3km of an infected site) are still unable to stage meetings, and horses trained within 1km of an infected site must not enter a racecourse. However, replacement venues have been announced by the BHB for the loss of Uttoxeter`s meeting on July 1st, and Catterick`s cards on July 4th and 5th, due to the ongoing restrictions. Stratford`s fixture on July 1st will now incorporate Uttoxeter`s programme with some necessary minor distance alterations. Southwell`s turf fixture on July 4th and 5th will incorporate Catterick`s programme with the same distance adjustments, although the five-furlong race contest will be run on the all-weather track. Chepstow has also been today given the green light to restart its meetings. A call to officials from the BHB confirmed testing of local farms close to the track had now returned negative and racing will resume with the meeting on Thursday, July 5th, quickly followed by a card on Saturday, July 7th. 'It`s been quite a difficult time because we haven`t know just when we would be able to race again,' said the course`s sales and marketing executive John Williams. 'We have had to treat each meeting as if it was going ahead with it only being pulled a week or so before the event. We`re glad it`s all over now and there is no reason to think it is going to happen again.' There is some encouraging news from DEFRA concerning Uttoxeter, Catterick and Cartmel, and Uttoxeter will be free to race at its meeting on August 24th. Sampling and testing required to consider removing the Protection Zones encompassing Catterick and Cartmel is also underway. But there is no such good news for Carlisle, the other course to fall within such a zone. Carlisle is within an area which has seen most confirmed cases of the disease and DEFRA has no immediate plans to start similar testing. As a result, its fixtures in July and August will not take place and discussions are underway as to how best replace those meetings.
