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Jockey Robbie Dunne Found Guilty Of Bullying Bryony Frost, Banned For 18 Months

A disciplinary panel convened by the British Horseracing Authority has issued an 18-month ban to national hunt jockey Robbie Dunne after he was found guilty of bullying female rider Bryony Frost over a sustained period, reports racingpost.com. The last three months of the ban have been suspended.

“We are unable to accept Mr. Dunne's sweep of denials, criticisms and his reasoning,” disciplinary panel chair Brian Barker said. “The tenor and type of language that we find was used towards Ms Frost is totally unacceptable, whatever the frustrations about her style and whatever the habits of the weighing room. They fall squarely within the ambit of the prohibition set out in the rule.

“Secondly, in reviewing the evidence given and their approach by jockeys of repute as well as by the valets – who probably find themselves in a difficult position – we have real concern that what was referred to by Mr Weston as the 'weighing room culture' is deep-rooted and coercive, and in itself is not conducive to the good health and the development of modern day race-riding.”

Over the course of the hearing, Frost's representative Louis Weston told the panel that Dunne had used “foul, sexually abusive and misogynistic language” toward Frost as well as threats to “cause her serious physical harm.”

Dunne's representative Roderick Moore argued that other female jockeys had not spoken out about malevolent behavior from Dunne.

“The isolation I felt for speaking out I wouldn't wish on anyone,” Frost said from the stand. “You are asking me for my opinion and they [the other female riders] have to go into the weighing room every day. I feel they are protecting themselves and, rightly so, staying neutral.”

Dunne gave testimony on Tuesday this week, arguing that when he said he would “put her through a wing,” he didn't mean it as a threat.

“It's a common thing that's said in the weighing room,” said Dunne. “Never once have I seen someone go through with it. It's just a matter of speech . . . it wasn't a threat, it was a figure of speech.”

Continuing the theme of Frost's isolation since she filed her complaint, it was also revealed this week was that a group of valets at Fontwell Park had refused to work for Frost on Tuesday.

In a statement to the Racing Post after Thursday's sanctions had been handed down, Frost said: “I would like to thank every individual including the racing public that has supported me not only during the last couple of weeks but throughout.

“I wish now to take a few days to reflect on the outcome before I make any further comment. I ask the media to please give me and the people closest to me a few days of privacy. I need to focus on my upcoming rides over the weekend. Thank you.”

Several Valets Boycott Bryony Frost Over Bullying Case; Robbie Dunne Calls Threatening Statement ‘A Figure Of Speech’

The British Horseracing Authority's disciplinary hearing into the jockey bullying case brought by Bryony Frost against Robbie Dunne came to a conclusion on Wednesday, reports the Racing Post, with the panel expected to have a final decision on Thursday. Dunne is officially charged with seven breaches of the rules of racing, four relating to conduct prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct, and good reputation of the sport, and three of acting in a violent or improper manner.

Dunne gave testimony on Tuesday, arguing that when he said he would “put her through a wing,” he didn't mean it as a threat.

Continuing the theme of Frost's isolation since she filed her complaint, it was also revealed this week was that a group of valets at Fontwell Park had refused to work for Frost on Tuesday. Former jockey and master valet Chris Maude confirmed the boycott, according to a report in The Guardian.

“I think they're upset that it's been thought and been in the press that they condone any sort of bullying behavior,” Maude said. “I think they were very upset that their names have been in the press and they've found the whole thing quite harrowing to be honest. So they said they would rather not work for her today.”

In his closing statement, BHA representative Louis Weston said: “If what is being said, when you come to determine this case, there is a weighing room culture that allows one jockey to threaten another with serious injury to them or their horse, or to call another a whore, a slut or a slag then that culture is one that is sour, rancid and one that we say should be thrown out and discarded. Its time, if ever it had its time, has gone.”

He added: “It cannot be that Ms. Frost can be allowed to compete on a racecourse on a level playing field only to find when she comes back to the weighing room she's met by Mr. Dunne acting out a role of some patriarchy re-enacting social attitudes of the 1950s in his capacity of self-appointed enforcer of traditions he perceives to be put in place in the weighing room. It's just unacceptable.”

Read more at the Racing Post here and here. Read more at The Guardian here.

The post Several Valets Boycott Bryony Frost Over Bullying Case; Robbie Dunne Calls Threatening Statement ‘A Figure Of Speech’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Assessment Started on UK Racing’s Environmental Sustainability

An initial assessment of British racing's progress on environmental sustainability, initiated and funded by the Racing Foundation, has been commissioned by British racing's leaders. The aim is to build a clearer overall picture of current environmental activities and expertise across racing and breeding-establishing what's already being done, where there's potential to go further, and how this could be achieved. It will also identify the key sustainability issues, risks, and opportunities for racing. The scoping assessment is likely to cover several areas of environmental sustainability, including CO2 emissions, decarbonisation and renewable energy, management of key resources such as water and plastics, and potential for positive contributions through biodiversity.

Lasting three months, the project will begin immediately and will be delivered by sustainability consultancy White Griffin. Working closely with industry representatives from the BHA, Horsemen's Group and RCA, White Griffin will actively engage with racing's businesses, employers, and participants, particularly those with interest or specialist expertise in environmental sustainability.

Brant Dunshea, BHA Chief Regulatory Officer and Project Executive Sponsor, said, “Climate change and sustainability are major challenges for our sport, given how dependent we are on the environment, transportation, and the use of essential resources.

“There is a real opportunity here for British racing to lead progress in this area, taking positive action to find effective solutions to the challenges we face–and crucially grasp some of the opportunities.

“This foundation research will help us do this by measuring where we are now, plus where there's scope to go further, either as individual organisations and businesses, or collectively through an industry-wide strategy.”

Rob Hezel, Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, said, “We believe that environmental sustainability is crucial to British racing's long-term future and prosperity, which is why it is key pillar of the Racing Foundation's strategy.

“We are pleased to fund this initial package of work, which it is hoped will inform the next steps in terms of determining the need for an industry-wide approach to sustainability.

The post Assessment Started on UK Racing’s Environmental Sustainability appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Asleep At The Wheel? British Horseracing Authority Doesn’t Show Up To Paralyzed Jockey Lawsuit

In his regular Monday commentary, the Racing Post's Chris Cook expressed his lamentations at the fact that the British Horseracing Authority did not bother to have a representative present at last week's High Court case in which paralyzed jockey Freddy Tylicki filed a lawsuit against rider Graham Gibbons for negligence that resulted in his injury.

On the line is not only the difficulty of ensuring jockeys have insurance coverage if the judge orders a payout to Tylicki, but also that several members of the racing community, both a jockey and a steward, spoke on the stand about the “code of conduct among jockeys” that often prevents them from speaking up.

“Readers of the Racing Post were better briefed about what went on than the folk who run the game,” Cook wrote. “A BHA presence last week would have been a reassuring sign that in fact the sport is well run and its top people can tell what really matters. Instead, I'm left imagining a group of people chiseling away in their own little silos and nobody sticking their head outside to see if there's something that might need to be dealt with.”

The BHA sent the following reply to the Racing Post after the publication of Cook's commentary: “The suggestion that the BHA has not identified the significance of this hearing is entirely incorrect. Alongside any detailed judgement issued by the judge, a full transcript of the proceedings has been requested which will allow the BHA to take the time to study the proceedings in detail and carefully reflect on any items of concern.”