Ben Curtis tests negative for Covid-19 as he apologises for Newmarket breach

Jockeys' championship contender Ben Curtis has issued an apology for the breach of Covid-19 protocols at Newmarket on Friday evening, for which he was escorted from the course and provisionally stood down for 14 days, but believes he is paying a heavy price for a momentary lapse of concentration.

Curtis, whose coronavirus test returned negative on Sunday morning, admits he was in the wrong, and his immediate priority has been to apologise and assure people that he is a responsible person. However, he has revealed that within just the first 24 hours since the incident he has been taken off no fewer than 23 rides – including seven at Redcar on Saturday – at a cost of around £2,300 in riding fees alone, and points out the final cost will inevitably be several times that sum, not including any prize-money percentages.

In a statement issued to the Racing Post, Curtis said: “First of all I apologise for what was a momentary lapse of concentration. There was no malice or disregard to the rules in this case. It was a moment of blissful ignorance to the madness the world currently finds itself in.

“I entered a very open space that was occupied by two owners only, and two owners I had met with previous to racing that day. I adhered to social distancing rules for the entire period that I was in that area.

“I was then asked to leave by a racecourse employee and informed that I was not allowed to be there. I apologised profusely for my mistake and proceeded to leave the area. A short while later I was asked to leave the racecourse, which I complied with immediately.

“I'm a responsible person and I take this virus very seriously."

Curtis was non-committal when asked if he might appeal, but if he did the Racing Post understands the BHA’s disciplinary panel could be convened as early as Friday, with the sport's governing body mindful that a racecourse ban impacts a jockey's ability to earn in a way it does not for a trainer.

If he were to appeal successfully, his ban would effectively have been eight days, since if he is cleared to ride immediately following the hearing the governing body would consider allowing a jockey change for the following day.

Ben Curtis wins the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on DandallaCredit: Edward Whitaker

Even an eight-day suspension will have a serious financial impact on a rider as busy as Curtis, who is currently the winningmost rider in Britain this year with a tally of 131.

Frustratingly for him, he had not even been due to be at Newmarket on Friday. He was down to ride four favourites at Hamilton that day before that meeting was called off and he switched to Newmarket.

He was ejected from the course before his sole ride on the card aboard the Marco Botti-trained Silver Samurai. David Egan stepped in to ride the 7-4 favourite, who finished fourth behind Hot Summer.

The BHA Covid-19 guidelines state: "If an attendee is removed, they will be referred to the BHA and not permitted to enter any racecourse for a minimum of 14 days, or until the matter is either heard by a disciplinary panel or closed by the BHA."

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