Trainer Ender’s high temperature costs Lord Springfield his Rasen run

Keith Hamer
July 15, 2020 1:51 pm

Horse taken out under Covid-19 protocols.

Lord Springfield was not allowed to run at Market Rasen after his trainer Sara Ender failed a temperature test, under requirements for Covid-19.

Ender and her father Neville had made the journey from Malton for division two of the Betway Handicap Hurdle, but the handler did not pass the check on arrival and was not allowed into the racecourse.

Ender senior, who is his daughter’s assistant and owner of the horse, said: “Sara had her test – and bearing in mind we had just driven the best part of three hours from Malton – it was showing 38 degrees. She was obviously a bit warm. We had just got out of the wagon.

“Mine was 37, which was fine; Sara’s was showing at 38, which is slightly too high, so she had a second one which showed 38 again literally a few moments after – then she had a third done which showed 36.1, under the requirement.

“The medical officer said she could have coronavirus and we weren’t allowed on the racecourse, and I couldn’t take the horse in because I had been driving the box.”

Ender was disappointed not to be allowed on course, adding: “We run everything ourselves and find ourselves the best part of GBP 500 out of pocket. I know they have a job to do, but I don’t think we got a fair crack of the whip.

“We can’t have runners until Sara has had a coronavirus test. All our horses are ready to run. We wanted to have runners next week at Southwell. If the results come back too late, it means we can’t have any runners.”

The British Horseracing Authority underlined the protocols in force on the racecourse mean two temperature test failures are sufficient to deny entry to a track.

A spokesperson said: “The regulations are clear that if any individual returns two temperature checks of 38C or above, they will unfortunately not be permitted entry to the racecourse, this is to protect participants, officials and all other attendees at race meetings.”