Jockeys vulnerable to lengthy equine flu shutdown, fears PJA
BHA says it has identified a strain of equine flu called Florida Clade One as being responsible for the outbreak
Saturday 9 February 2019 14:43, UK
The Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) fears a racing shutdown of longer than a week may quickly begin to have severe financial consequences for some of its members.
Racing in Britain was put on hold by the British Horseracing Authority after it emerged several vaccinated horses at the yard of trainer Donald McCain had tested positive for equine flu.
PJA chief executive Paul Struthers admitted, while some riders will take the chance to use the minimum six-day break for an unexpected holiday, for others it will be a worrying time.
He said: "Some jockeys will take this opportunity for a bit of a break - it is the time of year anyway some might be able to get away, particularly those on the Flat.
"As we know, we're going to be missing six days at least, and we'll know more on Monday when more results are known, but for some jockeys the inability to earn any money will very quickly start becoming an issue.
"Some jockeys will be immune to it, but that will be a very small number. The majority will be vulnerable."
He added: "Apprentices and conditionals, while they will lose their riding fees, they should at least be getting a wage.
"But there will be a decent number of members that if the shutdown goes on for more than a week or two financial difficulties might not be far over the horizon.
"What I must stress is that everyone is 100 per cent behind the BHA in this. No one has criticised how they have handled this - that is the first thing to say."
Meanwhile, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) says it has identified the strain of equine flu that has caused the shutdown.
The BHA says it has taken samples from 2,100 horses nationwide since the outbreak, and has identified a North American strain called Florida Clade One as being responsible.
It is the same strain that affected 10,000 horses in Australia in 2007.
The BHA are expected to issue a further update on Saturday afternoon.
