Fontwell Park's meeting next Tuesday will go ahead unless a foot and mouth outbreak occurs near to the course.

But the hunter chase will be omitted from the programme with another race substituted because a high proportion of hunter chasers and point-to-pointers are trained on farms. Chief executive Jonathan Garratt said: "I am slightly uneasy about staging the meeting in these circumstances.

"But following discussions with veterinary advisers and local livestock farmers, we are going ahead."

Garratt stressed the prescribed precautionary measures will be rigorously applied. He said: "We will err on the side of caution with our disinfecting and other procedures.

"I'm asking potential racegoers who feel they could be a risk to stay away. At the same time, we are aware of our responsibility to the racing industry to race on Tuesday."

The Ministry of Agriculture has not put a block on racing and this has put courses in a difficult position. In consulting farmers and a representative group of racegoers, Garratt has arrived at the decision to race by the best possible route.

He added: "At least we will be doing our bit for the industry and for the local economy."