Racing's battle to restore our faith

Even though vets have no quarrel with the sport, the problem racing faces if it is to resurrect this jumps season within a week is avoiding having the government take the matter out of its hands by banning racing altogether until they declare the crisis over.

BHB racing director Paul Greeves and communications manager Alan Delmonte believe that, although they have a difficult message to sell, it is a responsible and reasoned one. They view the suspension as necessary only to give space to eradicate uncertainty and misconception.

"Since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth until now, there has been a lack of clarity and confidence. The industry needed a strong lead and that is what it will have from us in the next seven days," said Greeves.

Embryonic plans centre on the establishment of a code of conduct. These mandatory precautions will be taken by all sections of the industry - from trainers to tracks, spectators to stable staff, reporters to racecourse employees. All must verify they have read, understood and abided by the code.

Its measures are enforcable under the rules of racing for and by licensees. Trainers will be responsible for carrying out the rules at their yards. Racecourses can demand all entrants abide by them.

Greeves described the new measures as "detailed, demanding, effective and, to some extent, extreme. They are evident and real processes to turn Britain's racecourses into little islands of foot-and-mouth cleanli-ness. These levels of disinfection will not replicated anywhere in Britain, bar for the sites of confirmed outbreaks themselves," he said.

Sanitisation procedures at Britain's 59 racecourses, already in place since last Thursday, will be heightened. All vehicles - whether professional or spectator - will pass through large disinfectant pools on entry and exit. Those arriving from exclusion zones must declare themselves and undergo dedicated disinfection prior to also passing through the main control procedures.

Trainers must keep tack and equipment to a minimum. No bedding or feed can be transported with the horses. Guidelines for conduct on their own premises will become more stringent.

All people entering a racetrack will face santisation measures for their shoes. Those hailing from rural areas will be asked not to arrive in their everyday wear but in fresh clothes. The BHB advises patience and time to undergo these routines.

"We are confident everyone will react positively to these extra demands because they have already behaved so responsibly. These measures are not time-consuming impositions - they are necessary for the good of the industry," said Delmonte.

Racing's chiefs are aware local feeling prompted many trainers to shut down their yards. But, although government submitted to pressure from the National Farmers Union when imposing the 1967-8 ban on racing, the BHB stressed "understanding of the disease has greatly increased during the last 33 years". Foot-and-mouth should no longer mean an end to racing.

"Our challenge is to break down misconceptions and reinforce MAFF's distinction between horses and livestock. Government and top experts on the disease do not want events to be called off unnecessarily, causing widespread panic," said Greeves.

"MAFF states a horse travelling in a horsebox to a race meeting constitutes a much lower risk than the movement of people. Horseboxes are actually deemed one of the lowest-risk vehicles because they have a dedicated purpose, normally stand on hard flooring like concrete and are routinely steam-cleaned."

Participation in a resumption of racing will remain a matter of individual choice. The BHB accepts many trainers may maintain a self-imposed ban.

"It will take time for the efficacy of these new measures to be appreciated," said Greeves. "But we aim to persuade the majority that to continue racing is not to behave irresponsibly. We aim to show the public that within our sport we will reduce the risk of spread to well below the everyday risk anywhere in the countryside."