The battle of the sexes that could tear racing apart
Poster girl’s bullying claims heard tomorrow
THe only certainty before the BHA’s disciplinary panel meet tomorrow to hear allegations that Robbie Dunne bullied and harassed his fellow jockey Bryony Frost is that horseracing is in for some very uncomfortable days.
A harsh light will be shone on the sport, not least how the BHA have handled a much-criticised, protracted investigation into a case involving allegations of sexism in the weighing room.
At the centre of the case is the poster girl of British jump racing, a role model for aspiring young female riders.
The subject of her bad-blood allegations is a journeyman professional who has rarely stepped into the racing spotlight, never mind had his name mentioned outside it.
But the outcome of a disciplinary hearing which will focus on three races last year — and may last up to six days — could have seismic ramifications.
If 36-year-old Dunne is found guilty, he faces a significant suspension. There will also be a heap of scrutiny on the weighing room and the culture within it which allowed him to allegedly threaten and intimidate a female colleague unchecked.
Anyone who has read the vile comments attributed to Dunne — allegedly directed at Frost — which appeared in a leaked 120-page BHA report will find it hard to believe there can be any other outcome.
They will also hear about Dunne allegedly standing naked in front of Frost in the weighing room while some of those confrontations took place.
Most will equally find it hard to comprehend how male and female jockeys are in such close proximity in changing rooms in the 21st century. The case has accelerated hopelessly overdue modifications to the lay-outs in the weighing room with changes being announced last week.
Anything less than a rigorous examination of Frost’s allegations will damage the sport and lead to the conclusion that the welfare of young jockeys — female and male — is not afforded the attention that wider society demands.
The basis of the alleged outbursts from Dunne, who told BHA investigators he had been the subject of threatening phone calls, was that Frost takes less care than she should keeping her mounts straight, potentially endangering fellow riders and their horses.
That included Dunne blaming Frost for the fatal fall of his mount Cillian’s Well at Southwell in September last year.
Behind that is the historic, self-imposed code of conduct in the weighing room, justified as safeguarding each other.
Part of that is due to a lack of faith among jockeys that everything is policed effectively by the officials and that careless and dangerous riding can go unchecked.
It has been reported a second female jockey lodged a complaint about another incident with a male colleague, but no other female professional jockey has publicly supported Frost.
Sources have told Racemail that the female jockey community do not recognise a wider spirit of sexism and misogyny. Their initial idea to make a public statement was not carried through.
Such is the sensitivity around the hearing that it is hard to get on-the-record opinions, but eight-time champion jockey Peter Scudamore said: ‘This is one of the most important cases I can remember happening in racing.
‘I have been a jockey and my partner (Lucinda Russell) is a lady trainer. I have never seen her treated any differently because she is a woman, or witnessed sexism in the weighing room while I was riding.
‘The things Dunne is alleged to have said would not be tolerated in any workplace and racing should not be different. There is a distinction between bullying behaviour and top sportspersons trying to impose their personalities on opponents, male or female.
‘If Dunne is found guilty, the BHA are effectively saying the policing of the weighing room is also not effective and changes need to be made. I worry what implications that might have. There is the much-talked about camaraderie of the weighing room, but beyond friendship, the foundations of that bond is safety, watching each other’s backs.
‘There is concern about how the rules are interpreted by the stewards, a lack of faith in the system. Aidan O’Brien and Paul Hanagan have voiced concerns recently about riders keeping straight and being respectful to fellow jockeys. There could be serious ramifications if riders feel they can’t sort out issues, particularly with younger, inexperienced jockeys, because the weighing room has become overly sanitised.
‘You can’t have people riding straight in parallel lines. What I worry about is the people making the rules don’t fully understand the mechanics of a race. If the BHA get this wrong, ultimately someone could get hurt.’