Horseracing: Outbreak leads to racing being suspended for a week
Racing in Britain has been suspended for seven days due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
Jockey Club spokesman John Maxse said that racing's authorities planned to resume racing on Wednesday March 7.
The last major outbreak of the disease saw racing in Britain cease for six weeks during the 1967/8 jumps season.
The announcement puts next month's Cheltenham Festival in grave doubt.
The three-day showpiece of the National Hunt season is due to start in a fortnight's time.
Meanwhile, Irish Agriculture Minister Joe Walsh, speaking in Brussels, has announced the suspension of all horse and greyhound meetings in Ireland with effect from midnight to prevent the spread of the disease.
He also appealed to the Irish public not to travel to the Cheltenham Festival, stressing that people should only travel to Britain if their journey was really necessary.
