Trainer James Tate doubts racing will resume this week after four new cases of equine flu were discovered in Newmarket on Sunday. Tate, who is also a veterinary surgeon based in Newmarket, spoke out after it was confirmed that vaccinated horses at the yard of trainer Simon Crisford had picked up the highly-infectious disease.
It follows on from the news that six horses at Donald McCain’s stable in Cheshire were discovered to have equine flu last week and it resulted in a six-day shutdown in the UK until this Wednesday.
The British Horseracing Authority has revealed that a decision on whether racing will resume on Wednesday will be made around 10.30pm on Monday night.
But with these new cases coming to light, Tate firmly believes that a decision to prolong the shutdown will be the outcome.
He told Sky Sports Racing: “Basically this is another trace that will need to be followed and another line of investigation. “Yesterday we were all hoping that while poor Donald McCain’s yard was on lockdown, the rest of us might be able to get back going.
“Now it’s Donald McCain’s yard and Simon Crisford’s yard on lockdown and we have to trace the Simon Crisford line of infection before we can let everybody else keep going. “And then, God forbid, we get any other positives in other yards.”
Tate added: “The long and the short of it is we were hoping to get back racing towards the end of this week and this is a setback and now that looks unlikely.”
