COVID BREACH AT SANDOWN
THE Jockey Club warned racegoers to stay away from race meetings after a member of the public breached COVID-19 security measures at Sandown yesterday.
The man, believed to be in his early 60s, entered the Esher track by the racecourse stables at the start of the meeting.
But he was quickly shown the door after failing to produce accreditation when challenged by Sandown staff.
The British Horseracing Authority, whose protocols to combat the spread of coronavirus have been in operation since the sport resumed from a 74-day blackout on June 1, declined to comment on the incident.
But a spokesperson for Sandown’s owners, Jockey Club Racecourses, said last night: “A member of the public entered the site through a side entrance.
“They were immediately spotted and escorted to the nearest exit, spending no more than two minutes inside Sandown.”
Although the general public returned to the grandstands on December 1, Downing Street’s latest revision of the tier system took the action back behind closed doors on Thursday.
“While this is an isolated incident in more than seven months of racing predominantly behind closed doors, we would remind everyone that due to Government guidelines no members of the public are permitted to attend racedays until further notice,” added the Jockey Club spokesman.
Metier earned a quote of 7-1 for the Supreme
Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March with a 12-length victory in the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle.
The 7-4 favourite’s success was also Fry’s first at the highest level since moving stables to Corscombe, Dorset in June.
“To get the new yard up and running is a lot of hard work — not least for my wife Ciara, who not only is assistant trainer but is married to me!” said Fry.
JAMIE MOORE rode the 800th winner of his career as Hudson De Grugy won Sandown’s juvenile hurdle.