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Getting over the flu: the verdict on racing's shutdown and how it was handled

With the action back on, Lee Mottershead gauges opinion on the enforced break

A veterinary surgeon watches the runners for the opening race at Plumpton, one of the four British venues that got racing under starter's orders again on Wednesday
A veterinary surgeon watches the runners for the opening race at Plumpton, one of the four British venues that got racing under starter's orders again on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

The patient was suddenly forced to bed but is now back moving, working and well on the road to recovery.

Yet while British racing has resumed following its six-day shutdown, what costs were incurred by the sport's dose of flu, what are the legacies and how well was the crisis handled?

It was at 11.23pm on the night of Wednesday, February 6, that the BHA announced racing the following day was cancelled due to three horses trained by Donald McCain testing positive for equine influenza.

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