The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) wishes to thank Trainers and their Veterinary Surgeons for their ongoing assistance in dealing with the equine influenza challenge over the last few weeks. We reiterate below the current requirements and give advance notice of a future rule change agreed by the IHRB Board in relation to future protection via equine influenza vaccination.

Current Requirements:
Measures taken to date to protect racing horses remain in place as per the Press Release of 26th February 2019 – ie. that for the remainder of this year, such horses must have been vaccinated on or after the 18th January 2019 with a vaccine containing a Clade 1 equine influenza representative.

1% of runners to date have not been able to run since this requirement came into effect because the booster has either not been administered or adequately certified. Trainers and their veterinary surgeons are urged to ensure that all details of vaccination certification are properly completed including the name, stamp and signature of the administering veterinary surgeon.

Future Requirements:
With effect from 1st January 2020, all horses racing in Ireland will be required to be vaccinated with an equine influenza vaccine containing a Clade 1 representative every six months.
The change in requirements is being highlighted now in order to give Trainers and their veterinary surgeons an opportunity to plan vaccination around their horses’ racing campaigns.

For further information, please contact:
Lynn Hillyer, Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping
Phone: +353 87 1925 366

Editor’s Note:
1. This future requirement for increased vaccination frequency is based on scientific recommendation.