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Jockeys claiming that they are the real victims in this stands out in my mind as one the ugliest things I’ve seen in sport for quite some time
The PJA and some of the jockeys that have commented, seem oblivious of the important fact that Dunne actually pleaded guilty to one of the charges against him. And that he more or less convicted himself with his own evidence on a second charge during the hearing.
Fitzgerald by the way, is a member of the board of the PJA.
This statement is as worthless as a sheet of toilet paper:
https://www.thepja.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Female-Jockeys-Statement-9.12.21.pdf
No names, no signatures, just something that anyone could have written.
Th PJA board consists of Page Fuller and NINE men. The Jockeys Advisory Group has a total of eleven members: Page Fuller and TEN men…… Having more women on their board could be a beginning.
A replacement of all existing members would be better still, given the shameful lack of leadership & insight this lot have exhibited. That they describe themselves as “diverse” is an insult. Their personal lack of diversity wouldn’t matter if they had shown a collective commitment to diversity but this is very clearly not the case.
Worth noting that workplace bullying is one thing but indecent exposure is a criminal offence. Bryony could have escalated this – and, indeed, still could. Dunne could end up on the sex offenders’ register if he persists in his campaign against her. It would be harsh but the verdict does make a conviction more likely.
I also wasn’t surprised by Mick F’s stance. His repeated singling of “nicest guy in the weighing room” for almost any male jockey takes on a whole new dimension.
Taken from the PJA Jockey’s statement:
‘At no point have we condoned what is alleged to have happened – we just haven’t been able
to give any evidence to support it as we don’t have any’.The fact that they used the word alleged is rather telling on how they view Bryony’s position and whilst they haven’t condoned the bullying they don’t appear to have shown any kind of support/solidarity for Bryony either. I wonder if anyone of them actually went and spoke to Bryony to find out if she was ok????
Also rather convenient that nobody heard or saw anything for all the months that this was going on, rather indicates that either it is not as close a knit group as they would lead us to believe or the comments simply didn’t register to them as being bullying and so no need to get involved, which of the two is the more worrying.
Finally the fact that they are pointing out that they are being shamed for telling their truth is a little ironic when it has clearly come to light from this and the Gibbons case that jockeys by their own admission when speaking to authorities can be let say rather economic with the truth and in some case don’t act on glaring red flags due to not wanting to get involved or breaking the code.
The gibbons case is on balance more troubling than frost v dunne. Allegedly gibbons regularly had alcohol on his breath but this unbelievably relevant fact only cane to light recently. In both cases everything smacks of jockeys looking out for those in the right camp. Beyond shameful that both in the tyliski and frost/ dunne case only remembered things when it suited their guys case. As Tom Scudamore pointed out he suddenly wasn’t friendly with frost after she burst the omerta.Never been more scunnered with racing as I’ve been in the last few weeks.
They need to adjust the ” alleged ” to ” proven ” , Matt chap has made valid point reg that this has tainted a lot of people , the valets , AP ( Ive commented elsewhere on here that McCoy ain’t a particularly nice guy ” ) , Mick Fitz , and in my eyes worst of all Tom , if I had to work in the weighing room I doubt I’d want to have any time for any of them , I go back to Ginger McCain book when he talked about all the people he met during his life , despite meeting the mighty and famous he always he met the nicest people ” mucking out horses ” , racing going forward has to educate the youngsters coming through
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
“That’s interesting CAS. I missed the show you mention.
I had a perception of him as being somewhat of a mentor to the young jockeys nowadays, and being quite fair and level-headed.”
It was also interesting to hear both Adele Mulrennan and Megan Nicholls on the same programme say their experience of the weighing room community was completely positive.
It was quite revealing how even the daughter of Bryony Frost’s main employer was not exactly going out of her way to show solidarity with her.
I think it’s fair to say Bryony isn’t and prob hasn’t been the most popular jockey in the weighing room , there,s no women in the UK anyone near her and maybe there,s a touch of jealousy there , it’s also clear many don’t like her ott celebrations after races , it’s becoming more about her than the horse , maybe for a while she should tone it down , I’ve said she,s a good jockey but Rachel in her approach and riding is a different league
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Agree HDLG. I think it is only to be expected that some journeyman jockeys are a little envious of Frost’s success and the media love in with her. I think she has played the media for all it is worth and I admit I do find her manner a little irritating sometimes. She is danger of straying into Dettori “Look At Me” territory and could do with toning it down a little.
But – of course – that does not excuse Dunne’s conduct towards her, any of the remarks made by the likes of Cawley or any of the ostracising behaviour.
We all have to work beside folk who are annoying,frustating,arrogant etc. I’m sure we all rub people up the wrong way. The vast majority show some common sense and just get on with life. But the jockeys by basically defending dunnes behaviour have shown them to be nasty and vindictive IMHO. This is not comradeship it is appalling behaviour over a sustained period. The jockeys are angry they have been rumbled and need to accept the situation and get real. The omerta is nonsense when it’s covering up appalling behaviour. I really despair at times at how racing folk behave.
It will be dog eat dog among jockeys, they are adversaries, not comrades, and in a way it’s mad they even share changing facilities.
It’s like both teams before a football match having to share the same dressing room.
It’s surely a place to stay silent and tight lipped even at the best of times.
These are the opposition, not your mates.
She strikes me as an intelligent girl who saw a window of opportunity to bury a nasty piece of work who was giving her grief and give the rest a warning to back off and leave her alone.
And she took it.
Good on her.
Doubt anyone has spoken to her in ages in there.
And doubt she cares one bit.
This is ruthlessly competitive elite sport, not a social club.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Just watched Stuart Machin’s interview with David Bass at Warwick a few days ago.
There is not much chance of any improvement if Bass has a senior position in the PJA. At best, he showed himself to be incredibly tin eared. At worst, someone with no understanding of the issues at all.
He seemed far more concerned about the quality of the facilities in the weighing room than with the established fact that one of his colleagues had been subjected to a sustained campaign of misogynistic bullying.
I wonder how he would have managed fifty years ago, when the weighing room at tracks like Wye had no running water and jockeys hung their clothes up on a rusty nail?
Sorry cork it’s of no interest whatsoever that others say their own experiences are “positive”
Agree that some jockeys should expect some hostility from public now. I suppose it’s too much to ask itv to report on a dunne or scudamore fall that “the horse is ok but the jockeys ******!”
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