The racing season starts tomorrow at Brighton, despite the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

But stringent precautions will be taken at the first meeting this year at Brighton Racecourse.

The number of vehicle entrances is being reduced and all will be covered with disinfectant matting.

Horseboxes will have their wheelbases washed and then sprayed. People coming in to watch the races will have to walk over disinfectant mats.

General manager Phil Bell is confident race-goers will not be inconvenienced by the measures.

He said: "We are doing all within our powers to ensure everything is clean. There has been so little racing that people will want to come and we are expecting a good crowd."

Tomorrow's meeting is the first of 22 planned this year at the course.

There will be evening meetings on May 23, June 1 and June 14. Sunday racing will be staged there on September 30 and the last race will be on November 2.

Northern Racing has spent £4 million on Brighton since taking over.

During the winter, it pulled down a derelict grandstand and used part of the site as a picnic area.