21 February Official confirmation at an abattoir at Brentwood, Essex, of Britain's first case of foot and mouth for more than 20 years. 23 February Meeting at Newcastle in three days time is called off as course falls within an exclusion zone. Share prices of bookmaking firms fall. 24 February Big meetings go ahead at Kempton and Haydock without hitch.
Seventh outbreak is confirmed.
26 February Meeting at Portman Square between representatives of the British Horseracing Board, Racecourse Association, National Trainers Federation, the Animal Health Trust and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Number of confirmed cases rises to 12. Trainers including Kim Bailey, Ferdy Murphy and Wilf Storey call for racing to be halted. Cheltenham officials express concern over chances of Festival going ahead. 27 February Meetings go ahead at Catterick, Leicester and Wolverhampton.