February 14, 2014, Dubai ~ Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) has cancelled the scheduled Al Ain race meeting scheduled for February 14.

On the evening of 13 February 2014, the ERA became aware of the existence of thirteen (13) recent laboratory positive identified strangles cases in the show jumping community.  As the Al Ain Equestrian Shooting and Golf Club has recently hosted a show jumping event, cancellation of the race date was deemed to be the appropriate action to eliminate any chance of this contagious disease spreading to horses coming for the flat racing.

The ERA, responsible for the welfare and integrity of racing in the UAE, will continue to monitor closely and coordinate investigations to quarantine and mitigate any risk of this disease spreading.

The ERA Veterinary Department will issue appropriate bio-security measures to all registered training establishments to assist all stables to identify, report and eliminate any potential spread of this disease.

All future scheduled race dates as per the ERA calendar will proceed as published.

*Strangles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi. Not usually fatal, the bacteria affects the lymph nodes and is spread to other horses by direct contact, contaminated food, water, equipment or people’s hands/clothing. Horses can also catch the disease by inhalation of the bacteria, but this is less common. The organism can survive for long periods in the carrier horse or in the environment in the right conditions.

~end