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.

“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. 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.

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Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: The Bryony Frost-Robbie Dunne Case

The British Horseracing Authority's disciplinary hearing of jumps jockey Robbie Dunne for prejudicial conduct and verbal abuse toward fellow rider Bryony Frost is the subject of this week's Friday Show.

Bloodstock editor Joe Nevills leads the discussion, with editor in chief Natalie Voss and news editor Chelsea Hackbarth offering their thoughts on the case in which Dunne has been accused of using abusive, physically threatening and misogynistic language against Frost on multiple occasions.

Frost, 26, is Britain's most successful female jockey. By bringing to the BHA the complaint against Dunne – whose tirades were said to be witnessed by others – Frost said she has felt abandoned and isolated by fellow riders, saying, “I wouldn't wish it on anyone.” She also testified that the culture within horse racing makes it difficult for anyone to file complaints against others.

Dunne faces up to a three-year ban if found guilty of the charges against him.

Also in this final edition of the Friday Show for 2021, Canadian legend Pink Lloyd has been named Woodbine's Star of the Week following his stirring victory in his career finale in last week's Kennedy Road Stakes at the Toronto, Ontario, track.

Watch this week's Friday Show, presented by Woodbine, below:

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BHA Bullying Hearing Day 2: ‘The Isolation I Felt For Speaking Out I Wouldn’t Wish On Anyone’

The British Horseracing Authority's hearing into the jockey's room bullying case brought by female national hunt jockey Bryony Frost against male rider Robbie Dunne entered its second day on Wednesday.

After opening statements from Frost's attorney on Tuesday detailed the nature of the charges against Dunne, Frost was on the stand for much of today's hearing and underwent heavy cross examination from Dunne's representative Roderick Moore, according to racingpost.com.

One of Moore's primary arguments was 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 countered. “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 faces charges for seven individual rule breeches: four for conduct prejudicial to racing, and three for acting in a violent or improper manner. He denies all but one of the charges.

The hearing will continue on Thursday, and three days have been blocked out for continuation next week, if needed.

Read more at racingpost.com

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BHA Bullying Hearing Begins: Frost Subjected To ‘Foul, Sexually Abusive And Misogynistic Language’ As Well As Threats Of ‘Serious Physical Harm’

Tuesday began the British Horseracing Authority's hearing into the jockey's room bullying case brought by female national hunt jockey Bryony Frost against male rider Robbie Dunne. Frost's attorney Louis Weston made his opening statement, reports The Guardian, telling the three-member panel that Dunne had used “foul, sexually abusive and misogynistic language” toward Frost as well as threats to “cause her serious physical harm.”

Weston detailed that the issues between Dunne and Frost could be traced as far back as 2017, when Dunne paraded himself naked in front of Frost in the weighing room. In another alleged incident in 2019, Dunne made mocking comments after Frost became emotional during a post-race winning interview.

In 2020, a quintet of specific dates envelop the current charges against Dunne:

  • On Feb. 13 at Leicester, Dunne is accused of calling Frost “a f***ing slag and a dangerous f***ing whore.”
  • On July 8 at Stratford, Dunne pulled his horse up near Frost's after a race and allegedly said: “you're a fucking whore … and if you ever fucking murder me like that again, I'll murder you.” (“Murder” in this context refers to cutting off a rival in a race)
  • On July 29 at Market Rasen, Dunne is alleged to have ridden over-aggressively toward Frost.
  • In early August at Uttoxer, Dunne is alleged to have said to Frost: “I'm going to stop you murdering everyone, I'm going to murder you.”
  • On Sept. 3 at Southwell, after Dunne's mount fell and was fatally injured, he is reported to have later accosted Frost in the weighing room, threatening her with physical harm: “the next time I ride against you, I promise I will put you through a wing [of a fence].”

Weston calls Dunne's alleged language “plainly offensive, plainly misogynistic and if tolerated by a sport's regulator, bringing it into disrepute,” and said “there is no excuse or justification for it, none at all.”

The hearing will continue on Wednesday, with Frost expected to give testimony.

Read more at The Guardian.

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