Horseracing: Cheltenham festival is called off

The 2001 Cheltenham Festival fell to the inevitable when it was confirmed by officials that the racecourse fell within a foot-and-mouth exclusion zone.

The meeting, which had been rearranged for next month, was thrown into doubt after a new case of foot-and-mouth disease was found in a village five miles north west of the track.

A statement issued by the British Horseracing Board said: "Following confirmation that Cheltenham racecourse is now inside an infected area and in line with BHB policy of not racing in infected areas the Cheltenham Festival scheduled to take place on April 17, 18 and 19 has been cancelled."

The prestigious three-day fixture was rearranged after its traditional mid-March slot had to be postponed because the track could not comply with MAFF instructions regarding livestock being present on site 28 days before a race meeting.

And earlier this month the eastern boundary of another infected area reached just a mile from the course.