Fakenham set to stage Friday fixture as racing shutdown is lifted
Racing at Fakenham looks set to go ahead as planned later this week following the lifting of the sport's equine flu shutdown.
Late last night, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced fixtures would resume tomorrow, six days after the first cases of the virus were confirmed.
The shutdown had led to fears that Fakenham's Lycetts Raceday meeting this Friday would also become a casualty of the outbreak.
The track's two previous fixtures had also been abandoned because of frost and officials had warned there could be financial consequences if this week's fixture was lost.
A short time ago, Fakenham chief executive David Hunter said the resumption of meetings was "a great relief" both to staff there and the industry as a whole.
He added: "It's tremendous news. I'm delighted that racing is resuming and we look forward to welcoming everybody on Friday.
"Entries look encouraging and the weather forecast is good for this week."
Mr Hunter also rejected criticism from some leading figures in the sport who argued the BHA had over-reacted to the outbreak.
He said: "They've done the right thing. They have managed the whole thing very slickly."
