BHA and Levy Board agree to help trainers with testing costs

The BHA and Levy Board have announced they will help trainers with the cost of having their runners tested for equine influenza.

Thousands of horses in yards around Britain have been swabbed to determine whether they are suffering from the virus, which in turn has led to additional costs for trainers.

Some trainers had suggested there should be financial assistance from the BHA and on Saturday evening the regulator revealed it would be helping to foot the bill.

In a statement, BHA chief executive Nick Rust said: "The BHA is grateful for the ongoing professionalism and cooperation of trainers. Containment of this potential outbreak – and a swift return to racing – relies on their support.

"We appreciate that there are logistical and financial implications in the current situation and, as such, in order to help with the cost of testing, the BHA and Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) have agreed to pay a contribution to owners or trainers for the costs incurred where the BHA has required samples to be taken, including the cost of the swabs and the veterinary fees involved.

"We are working on the exact details with the NTF and HBLB and will confirm the reimbursement policy and process as soon as possible, but it will be based on a fixed fee per horse sampled.

"We are extremely grateful to Alan Delmonte and HBLB for their swift and important support and contribution on this. We are all working in the same direction – prevention of the spread of disease and the minimum possible disruption to racing."

The news was welcomed by Ben Haslam, who was one of the trainers to flag the issue on Twitter.

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