Tweak to vaccination system aimed at avoiding repeat of Noble Yeats farce

A new reminder system has been introduced to give trainers additional time after entries have closed to address any outstanding issues with a horse’s vaccination status.

The tweak of the current rules comes after Grand National winner Noble Yeats was ruled out of Lingfield's Fleur De Lys Chase last weekend after his vaccination record was not in line with the rules of racing before the close of entries, although the race was subsequently cancelled due to frozen ground.

After extensive engagement with and feedback from trainers, the BHA and National Trainers Federation (NTF) have agreed to take extra steps to help further reduce the likelihood of the same scenario happening in future.

Where a horse has been identified as not qualified to race due to outstanding issues with vaccination status, trainers will now be contacted directly via email and have until 9am the day after entries closed to resolve matters.

If, however, the vaccination record is still not up to date by 9am the day after entries close, the horse will remain not qualified for that race. The horse will also remain ineligible for future races until vaccinations are fully compliant with the code.

Previously, vaccinations had to be administered, uploaded to the Weatherbys app and verified by a veterinary surgeon before the close of entries to avoid a horse being unqualified. In the case of Noble Yeats, that process was not completed in time, meaning the horse was not qualified to run.

The new reminder system is being introduced on a trial basis, with the hope it will provide a useful safety net.

"We are pleased to have been able to agree a positive change to the vaccination process after discussions with the BHA," said NTF chief executive Paul Johnson.

"The change will serve to reduce instances of trainers getting caught out by some of the process requirements whilst still ensuring that horses are vaccinated in line with requirements before they can run.

Paul Johnson: "The change will serve to reduce instances of trainers getting caught out"Credit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"We are grateful to the BHA for engaging with us so readily to find an improved solution."

After a meeting with the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and jockeys, the BHA has also announced that the bedding-in period for new whip rules in jump racing has been extended by one week.  The extension is at the request of jockeys and the PJA because of cancelled fixtures last week.

Full implementation of the new rules will now begin on February 13. The start of the bedding-in period for Flat racing remains unchanged at February 27, with full implementation scheduled for one month later.

Earlier this month the BHA scrapped controversial plans for the whip to be used only in the backhand position under the new rules. At the same time the number of strikes a rider can give their horse during a race was reduced by one to seven over jumps and six on the Flat. Penalties for rule breaches were also increased by the BHA.

According to data from the BHA's new whip review committee, a total of 43 rides would have fallen foul of the revised whip rules during the first week of the bedding-in period for jump jockeys.

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