Hit The Bid victory reopens debate over surgical procedure

Hit The Bid’s 50-1 victory in the Group 3 Curragh Stakes on Sunday fresh from a wind operation has refuelled the debate over whether such surgery should be made known to the public before the horse runs.

The matter is on the table for discussion by the Turf Club in Ireland, while in Britain the BHA is currently engaged in a project to determine whether more data – including the disclosure of a wind operation – should be made available before punters have a bet.

The issue will be raised at an Irish stewards’ meeting on Thursday, before new chief veterinary officer Dr Lynn Hillyer considers it in more detail after taking up her post at the start of next month.