Farmers continue racing protest

Farmers are furious over Monday's meeting at Plumpton

Monday's race meeting at Plumpton attracted protests from farmers still angry at the sport's resumption despite the continuing foot-and-mouth crisis.

The meeting was heavily criticised by local farmers who believe it will spread the disease to Sussex, a county previously unaffected by the outbreak.

British Horseracing Board chariman Peter Savill was at the course on Monday to explain the decision to resume racing in non-infected areas of Britain.

Police were put on alert but course officials insisted that racing went ahead.

One trainer said the antagonism between farmers and the racing fraternity was creating "bad feeling we could do without".

I think racing should bes stopped altogether until the whole problem is sorted out

  Julian Poulton, Trainer

Julian Poulton, who trains horses in Lewes, Sussex, said: "I think I'm going to have to carry on racing because it won't be very good for my business if I don't.

"Personally, I think racing should be stopped altogether until the whole problem is sorted out."

Chairman of the South of England Agriculture Society, Carola Godman-Law, farms near the course.

She said: "The local farmers around here are dismayed and quite frankly frightened that racing took place at Plumpton."

But despite agreement between the MAFF and the BHB to continue racing as long as strict regulations are observed, racing is a long way from returning to normal.

Cheltenham in April?

In the week that the Cheltenham festival was due to take place, organisers have yet to schedule a new date.

Their preferred dates, 24-26 April, clashes with the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, but Irish authorities will not allow racing to resume in the Republic until 30 days after the last confirmed case of foot-and-mouth.

If Punchestown does go ahead, Cheltenham will try and stage its National Hunt Festival Festival a week earlier.

Racing will go ahead at Southwell on Tuesday and at both Huntingdon and Wolverhampton on Wednesday and Thursday.

The BHB is also encouraging more courses to stage stand by cards, and are offering £16,000 plus a guarantee on prize money as an incentive.