Yorkshire jockey Ben Curtis ‘ejected’ from Newmarket and faces 14-day Covid-19 racecourse ban

Ben Curtis will be sidelined for 14 days after being escorted from Newmarket for breaching Covid-19 protocols.
Jockey Ben Curtis. (Photo by David Davies/Pool via Getty Images)Jockey Ben Curtis. (Photo by David Davies/Pool via Getty Images)
Jockey Ben Curtis. (Photo by David Davies/Pool via Getty Images)

The Thirsk rider - who was crowned all-weather champion for the 2019/20 campaign - has enjoyed a highly productive spell since racing resumed on June 1, including claiming his first Royal Ascot win with Dandalla, who he has since partnered to a further Group Two success at Headquarters.

Group Three verdicts aboard Dubai Station and Nayef Road also count among his 63 winners over the last three months - a tally which currently sees him sitting in fourth in the Flat jockeys’ championship standings.

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However, he will now be out of action for two weeks while the British Horseracing Authority investigates the matter.

A BHA spokesperson said: “Ben Curtis was ejected from Newmarket this afternoon for breaching the Covid-19 protocols.

“He will not be permitted to enter a racecourse for 14 days from today as per the published Covid-19 requirements whilst the matter is investigated further.”

Trainer Gary Moore was fined £750 earlier this month after breaching protocols at Goodwood, while Mark Gillard and his assistant Steven Hosie were each handed six-week racecourse bans following a hearing on Friday.

The pair were found to have contravened the Covid-19 rules at Newbury on August 15 and will be unable to attend a racecourse until September 26.

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