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I totally disagree with this talk of Bryony being OTT after winning races. I love the passion, joy and excitement she exudes after races. And it IS all about the horses as all she does is give credit to her mount. To think everyone used to moan about Ryan Moores interviews.
I’m fed up with jockeys and ex riders saying how great the weighing room is without people then asking them why if the culture is so good a jockey who has complained about being bullied has been ostracised by her peers. Francesca tried it with Mick Fitz yesterday and he basically blanked the question.
Mick Fitz is part of the problem, not the solution. He needs to conscentrate on kissing Hendersons arse. A role he gives a lot to already.
BUY THE SUN
“Sorry cork it’s of no interest whatsoever that others say their own experiences are “positive””.
Agree. I am just saying what they said. I did not say I agreed with them.
Another Saturday with hardly any Henderson runners ……
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
I don’t see why Frost should need to change how she speaks after a winning ride. She just seems happy and excited in her winning interviews, and usually gives plenty of credit to her horse and other people involved. I don’t get a sense it is due to her having a big ego or being attention seeking at all. As far as I’m aware, Dettori has never been disliked by his peers for far more attention-seeking behaviour.
No disrespect to Adele and Megan but primarily they are/were flat jockeys and were not competing day in day out with the top flat jockeys for G1 races and winning some of them like Bryony does over the jumps, so they very well may have had an altogether better experience (happy for them that they did and do).
However, we are talking about a specific person being specifically targeted for abuse for a perceived wrong that it seems absolutely nobody else either witnessed or if they did viewed it as banter and nothing to be concerned about/get involved with or even ask the person on the receiving end if they were ok. So I guess the takeaway is as long as you keep in your lane and don’t come over as a potential threat to the top tier you will have a pleasant welcoming experience in the weighing room.
With regards to Bryony’s interviews post race wins it is a breath of fresh air listening to her actually explain a race, her horse’s responses and her feelings during it which really connects with the viewing public as opposed to the previous almost monosyllabic dour responses we would normally get – a lot of the jockeys (granted it is mainly the younger ones) now tend to be a lot more forthcoming in these inteviews so if she has shown the way in that regard all the more power to her.
Jockeys seem to have a them and us mentality to anyone outside of their inner circle and thats maybe why so many are reluctant to stray from the ‘company line’ so to speak and it would seem that mentality sticks with them as they retire and become pundits (maybe so they can continue having any in for interviews etc). In light of his comments or evasive responses the fact that Mick Fitz is a jockey coach would now appear to be a bit of a worry unless all he is coaching is riding technique.
That being said there are a few that will tell it like it is and call out things that are wrong and hard luck if you don’t like it and I think Ruby seems to be more in that mould but then he had a rather good role model in how not to pull any punches as a pundit from his father Ted.
CAS Wrote: “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”.Just because Adele and Megan haven’t endured or witnessed any of what Bryony experienced doesn’t mean they are lacking “solidarity” towards her. Bullies, harassers and misogynists don’t attack every woman in the same way, possibly just one or two. What do they do to show solidarity? Lie? No.
What Adele and Magan’s words might show is although sections of the weighing room MUST change, the usual atmosphere in a weighing room may not quite be as rancid as the BHA claim.
However, an alternative way of looking at things is: For decades women jockeys have not been as good as men (as much as anything because they have not had the opportunities). In that time the suspicion is many men have been bullied / harassed too but – as the attitudes were different – haven’t come forward because in a macho environment it would’ve been seen as a weakness. On the other hand women jockeys were seen as primarily women, what the macho man thought as the fairer and weaker sex and someone to be looked after rather than a threat.
It surely can’t be a coincidence that Bryony is the first woman in the British National Hunt weighing room who’s a genuine THREAT to the men.
Therefore we should not be surprised if other women have not been treated the same way.
Value Is EverythingRancid wasn’t the right word to use but the fact remains that he weighing room have ostracised Bryony for daring to complain and the weighing room are still refusing to accept that Robbie Dunne abused Bryony.
I’m welling up.here after hearing Aiden Coleman this is so moving and the thought of these poor jockeys crying into to pillows because someone called them a name for ignoring and condoning bullying and near sexual abuse of a young female in the dressing room drives me to despair
They really are the victims here and as Aidan movingly pointed out they all have families
These poor families who might even have young girls who have been mentally bullied and flashed at by inadequate perverts too
can you imagine that ?
Poor old Ed Chamberlin bending over backwards to try and make a point without upsetting anyone, and getting zero back from the ex-jocks.
I know most of the people involved aren’t “rancid” at heart, but the past two days have shown that a rancid culture has developed. If they don’t like the word “rancid”, I suggest “toxic” instead.
Ed Chamberlain on cringe making total arse licking mission today to build bridges with the jockeys after yesterday’s boycott and it’s unbearably heavy handed and assumes that the viewers are incapable of thinking for themselves about this issue and need to be told.
Only racing could turn an unpleasant fall out between 2 of its protagonists into potential Armageddon for the whole sport’s reputation in the eyes of the casual onlooker.
Anyone within the industry who has got nothing constructive to say about a personal fallout (the details of which have been upheld in court totally in the complainant’s favour) would do best to realise that ultimately it doesn’t have much to do with them and taking sides and behaving like sulky children really won’t help.Unbelievably embarrassing.
I’m surprised this hasn’t yet been picked up by Women’s rights groups, especially the intimidating “oh look I’ve got no clothes on” aspect of Dunne’s loathsomeness.
Racing is one of very few (ultra-running is the only other non-equine one I can think of) sports where men and women compete against each other on a level playing field. Something that should be celebrated but instead the message seems to be “women aren’t welcome here unless they are prepared to be called whores etc and not bat an eyelid”.
Agree with Gingertipster with regard to the probable differences between the jumping and flat set ups.
Agree with Marlingford with regard to not sensing an ego at all with Bryony.
Thankfully this sport is essentially about the horses despite a number of its human participants managing to portray it in an even dimmer light since the verdict was announced. That said the likes Steve Mellish, Paul Hayward and Ruby Walsh have provided thoughtful contributions.
The “rancid” comment should not be used as a smokescreen to sidestep the real issue of the case. It is extremely disappointing that the PJA still refuse in the face of the verdict to acknowledge that one of their members has been bullied and it’s shameful they have chosen to conflate the outcome with their legitimate grievances about weighing room conditions.
I’d expect Bryony will be reconsidering her membership.
“Rancid” was not ill advised.
Context – it was the BHA’s own lawyer using an emotive term in pursuit of securing a verdict.
Which he did.
Pathetic of BHA CEO Julie Harrington to distance herself from the term her own lawyer used as she sat on the fence as usual as she tries to manage a sport and industry she doesn’t understand.
She owes her position to her Westminster political contacts – she knows zero about racing.
But even more pathetic of jockeys to whinge about the term “rancid” being applied to their collective culture when they sit silent while a female jockey is called a “whore.”
Most of these jockeys are half my age yet they got their value systems out of the Victorian era.
Not one shred of sympathy for them.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"PJA wanted the “trial” stopped because they believed Dunne would not get a fair hearing. Which to be fair is a legitimate opinion. But has also given them a problem…
Because they must therefore now be in a position of not believing the panel’s verdict. Which is the reason the PJA now insist on the word “felt” – “Bryony felt harassed” – and can not talk about it as fact.
Has the word “rancid” therefore given them a useful diversionary tactic?
Value Is EverythingIMO it’s just given them the opportunity to look pathetic and hypocritical.
A lawyer used the term – that’s what happens in the real world outside the racing bubble – and it’s not half as offensive as what Dunne said to Frost.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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