English trainer Jo Davis used a blog post on Sunday to share her experiences with misogyny in racing, in light of the recent bullying case involving jockey Bryony Frost.
The 25-year industry veteran recounted one incident with a former owner who attempted to enter her house and said: “F*** me and you can have any horse you want,” Davis wrote.
Davis also shared instances of another trainer and a member of the media yelling obscenities at her from across a crowded pub, and a jockey too busy flirting with her to listen to pre-race instructions.
Also a former jockey, Davis recalled her first day in the saddle.
“When I race-rode for the first time I had the jibes and the piss-taking in the weighing room, it was a horrid experience,” she wrote. “I grew up with a fairly handy father, a brother who didn't take any s***, I worked in pubs and nightclubs in London and no-one messed with me, however racing was different.”
Davis continued, admitting she used to see the bullying and hateful words as “just banter,” but adds, “then I grew up.”
“We want to be accepted when we are young,” she wrote. “The girls I have spoken to about the Bryony situation say, 'it's just Robbie, unless you stand up to him that's what he does;' fair play to them, however why should they??
“Why should any man (it does happen to them too) or woman need to draw a line in the sand with a male or a female bully?”
Read the full blog post here.
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