Officials play down disease threat to derby

Jockey Club officials are confident that the outbreak of the highly infectious equine disease strangles will not affect the Vodafone…

Jockey Club officials are confident that the outbreak of the highly infectious equine disease strangles will not affect the Vodafone Derby meeting which starts on Friday week.

The single case of the disease, which has led to the cancellation of tomorrow's 'Breakfast With The Stars' morning at Epsom, is at a livery yard just 200 yards from the course.

However, Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said: "Peter [Webbon, the organisation's veterinary director] has spoken to the Animal Health Trust and they are of the view that the risk to horses stabled at the racecourse would be negligible.

"Therefore, the outbreak should not pose a threat to the staging of the Derby meeting."

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Explaining the exact nature of the disease, Maxse said: "Strangles is passed on through contact, either directly or indirectly - such as through sharing a horsebox or a drinking trough with a carrier.

"What Peter is trying to evaluate is whether there is a chance of it being carried through the air as there is no doubt that this yard is very close to the racecourse stables.  It is very rare for there to be a case of strangles in a racing yard, although thoroughbreds are susceptible to it."