Trainer Jon Scargill hits out as Kempton runner eats old feed from stable floor

Trainer Jon Scargill has hit out at the BHA after feed pellets from a previous meeting were found on the floor of the box his horse Cherbourg was allocated at Kempton.

The matter was inquired into on the day of racing but Scargill believes it raises significant integrity issues.

"At the inquiry Barney Clifford said it had never happened at Kempton before and I'm not disputing that, but the wider issues seemed to get lost with the stewards," the trainer said.

"They're meant to provide us with a secure, hygienic stable for horse welfare and dope-testing reasons. We didn't get that.

"The feed was in the middle of the floor so it hadn't been swept properly. If it was the only time it has happened then I was just very unlucky, but it wasn't done properly. It turns out this box hadn't been used for a week so my horse has eaten food that has been lying on the floor for a week, which isn't good."

After hearing from the stable manager, the veterinary officer, the senior veterinary surgeon and the clerk of the course, the stewards forwarded a report to the BHA.

"Whether they punish them or not is between them and Kempton but what does the inspector of courses do?" Scargill said. "I don't know what the remit is and I'm not expecting someone to inspect 120 boxes before every race meeting but surely there should be some random checking.

"There are two issues for me. If we can't rely on going in to a safe and hygienic stable what happens if I fail a dope test? Any competent high street lawyer would be able to drive a coach and horses through their doping regulations if they're not careful. The BHA are so onto dope-testing but they can't even keep their own house in order.

"And my horse has eaten week-old feed – I wouldn't scrape up the sweepings in the feed house here and sling that to a horse."

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