++ BREAKING NEWS ++ 03.03.05 - Haydock's poor hygiene facilities cost Martin Pipe £7,500 fine.

++ PRESS RELEASE ++
03.03.05

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HAYDOCK’S POOR HYGIENE FACILITIES COST MARTIN PIPE £7,500 FINE

It is noted that the British Jockey Club Regulators disciplinary hearing on Wednesday March 2nd 2005 looked into the reasons as to why the champion trainer Martin Pipe had refused to allow Tanterari to enter the sampling box at Haydock on 24.02.05. Pipe spoke of his fears over the risk of horses picking up infection in the sampling unit, that whilst the horses to be tested followed in one after the other, both winners and losers, no precautionary measures were taken by the racecourse to safeguard the risk of infection. Even the National Health Service in the hospitals are having to re-adjust their hygiene measures because more people are dying from infections caught whilst in hospital, than for the reasons that they went into hospital for in the first place.

Whilst the disciplinary panel say that they ‘fully appreciate’ that Pipe didn’t allow Tanterari to enter the sampling box due to there being no infection precautions provided to safeguard his horses welfare. However their ‘full appreciation’ evaporated fast as they fined Pipe £7,500 for carrying out his responsibilities and duties of care in an attempt to ensure Tanterari’s welfare.

Pipe said “If this has brought a consultation about looking into the problems arising from not sterilising the sampling box before and after each horse comes in, then there is something in it. It is all for the benefit of the horse and for the benefit of racing. It is a great concern of everyone and I am sure that it will be looked into.”

Are the British Jockey Club Regulators able to make a public announcement within the next two days as to the exact measures they are now prepared to take to set this to rights ?

Are the British Jockey Club Regulators able to ensure such measures be activated as current on all racecourses by March 8th 2005 ?

That the British Jockey Club Regulators are responsible for granting licences to racecourses in the first place, surely it is their job to ensure that all safety issues relating to horses needs to include their handlers needs be provided by each racecourse to an acceptable standard. Prevention surely is always better than cure.