A major outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in British farms
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK in 2001 caused a crisis in British agriculture and tourism. This epizootic saw 2,000 cases of the disease. Over 6 million cows and sheep were killed in an eventually successful attempt to halt the disease. The prestigious Champion Hurdle, held in the same Festival as the Gold Cup, was also cancelled. The 2001 cancellation of the Gold Cup is the only one since 1943 and 1944 during World War II.
