Bryony Frost | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dunne Appeals Ban

Jumps jockey Robbie Dunne, who was banned for 18 months-three of which were suspended–due to conduct prejudicial to racing for his harassment and bullying of fellow rider Bryony Frost, has appealed the decision. The 36-year-old rider denied all but one of the charges brought against him by an independent British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel. Originally, Dunne had seven days to lodge his appeal from the time the written reasons for the verdict were published on Jan. 6, but an application for an extension to Jan. 20 was granted by the disciplinary panel. Dunne has appealed both the findings of the panel and the penalty imposed by it.

The BHA said in a statement, “The independent judicial panel has received an appeal from the representatives of Robbie Dunne in relation to the finding and penalty imposed on him by the disciplinary panel after its recent hearing.

“The independent judicial panel will now convene an appeal board for the hearing and liaise with representatives of all parties regarding a potential date for the hearing, which will be communicated in due course.”

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Struthers To Leave PJA

Paul Struthers will stand down from his role as chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association after 10 years in the position. His resignation comes in the wake of criticism leveled at PJA leadership after the Bryony Frost/Robbie Dunne hearing. Dale Gibson has been appointed interim chief executive.

“Throughout my time at the PJA, I have been extremely fortunate to represent jockeys who I have nothing but complete admiration for,” Struthers said in a statement. “In my dealings with hundreds of jockeys over the years, I have learned a huge amount from them and have tried to treat everyone with sincerity, respect and decency.

“Due to the relentless nature of their lives, jockeys rightly need the PJA to be available at all times and this role is a way of life, not a job. As many in racing will empathise, this has taken a significant toll on my family and personal life, and it is the right time to step aside.

“Representing the courageous, dedicated and resilient men and women who make up our diverse membership has been the greatest privilege of my career. I would like to thank everyone that has supported me in my role and I am incredibly proud of what the PJA has achieved over the last 10 years. This is only possible thanks to a talented, hard-working team who share a passion for the job and an incredibly supportive membership.

“Finally, I am very confident that any recommendations and improved procedures that the PJA and the sport puts in place will serve all our members well and improve their lives. They deserve nothing less.”

PJA Chairman Jon Holmes said, “It is with regret that we have accepted Paul's resignation, but we understand and accept Paul's decision. Paul has given a decade of his life to tirelessly striving to improve the lives of our jockeys. I and the whole team here want to pay tribute to Paul and thank him for everything he has done across a decade of selfless service.”

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Sex In Exchange For Horses? English Trainer Jo Davis Shares Her Experience With Misogyny In Racing

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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Frost Speaks Out After Bullying Ban: ‘If I Allowed It To Happen I’d Be Going Back On Everything I Stand For’

Top female national hunt jockey Bryony Frost opened up to The Sun on Tuesday, speaking to the media for the first time since the British Horseracing Authority issued an 18-month ban to jockey Robbie Dunne for bullying and harassment.

Frost revealed the reasoning behind her decision to take the bullying matter to the BHA.

“In the end it came down to two things,” Frost told The Sun. “There was the point of I don't believe anyone should make anyone feel that way, that you're not worthy of being who you are.

“And the main one was I wouldn't be a decent human being if I one day saw someone go through what I did, knowing I could have done something to prevent it happening again.

“If I allowed it to happen I'd be going back on everything I stand for in my own rules of life, how you treat people. I didn't want to see anyone go through what I did.”

Over the course of the five-day hearing into Dunne's conduct, 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.

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

Reactions across the racing industry have been heavily mixed, and Frost hopes to find some sense of normalcy moving forward.

“I just want to enjoy my riding, I want to move forward. . . I just want to be me,” she told The Sun.