The British Horseracing Authority hearings into allegations of bullying and harassment of female jockey Bryony Frost by her male weighing room colleague Robbie Dunne have ended in vindication for her stepping forward and an 18-month ban, three of which were suspended, for him which will likely end his career.

This extended beyond sport in many ways into an examination of workplace culture, on what is unacceptable in the relationship between humans, regardless of gender, but also of the barriers that still face women in a male-dominated environment.

Last week we looked at the allegations and the responses of those around the periphery of what was happening. You can read our thoughts on that here.

Lest anyone think that the guilty verdict handed down by the three-person panel brings an end to the story though, there is more to come and it will not be wholesome.

The panel published the reason behind its findings and we were drawn to two references in particular.

The Code

“By taking her complaint to the authority she has broken the code, knowing that isolation and rejection by some was inevitable.”

And then further on…

“In reviewing the evidence given and the approach by jockeys of repute as well as by the valets – who probably find themselves in a difficult position – we have real concern that what was referred to by Mr [Louis] Weston as the “weighing room culture” is deep-rooted and coercive.”

The very essence of sport is that rules may be questioned but must be adhered to. The very nature of ‘sporting behaviour’ is that it is based on doing your best, in a spirit of fairness, and accepting that there will be wins and losses.

The ruling of the panel is damning of the ‘dressing room culture’ that applies, most likely in more sports than horse racing. It is something that will diminish over time as sport becomes more gender-balanced in every facet.

Response

But along the way, there will be moments that will stop you in your tracks. One of those came not so much with the allegations or the ruling in this case but in the response, last night of the Professional Jockeys Association, presumably reflecting the views of at least some if not the majority of its members.

It starts out with sympathy for frost and praise for her courage in bringing the allegations forward. It accepts that the behaviour of Dunne fell well short of what was expected.

But then, rather than accepting the comments as an independent assessment of how things might need to change it says that “The PJA does not accept the disciplinary panel’s findings in relation to the culture within and collective behaviour of the jump jockeys’ weighing room. It is a grossly inaccurate and wholly unfair representation and a conclusion we believe is at odds with the evidence.”

It condemns the process of the hearing, which it had previously sought to have stopped, and blames the BHA for lack of investment in changing room facilities.

Wrong Direction

To make those points is valid but to do so at this very moment belies anger that is aimed in the wrong direction at the wrong time.

Some of the defences that this was ‘banter’ and distasteful and a bit crude totally miss the point that behaviour that looks borderline unacceptable to you is most likely wholly so to the person on the receiving end.

That’s not a ‘snowflake’ reaction that people should just get over themselves on. It is bullying and if that is ever seen to be a right and normal thing then who’d want to be part of it.

The idea that ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ is really an acceptance that bad behaviour which impacts on another person is OK. It really isn’t.

Another worrying aspect was the press release issued by the PJA from ‘a number of female jockeys’ who said that “It is sad that whilst one woman is being praised for speaking her truth, the rest of us have been shamed for doing the same. 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.”

They express the hope that the events and the coverage of the past weeks will not deter others from coming forward but they decided not to put their own names to this statement. Why?

Dangerous

Racing is a tough sport. It is as dangerous as any, and much more so than most. The PJA website highlights it is there for Every Ride, Every Jump, Every Battle, Every Fall, Every Day. In this case though it needed to be there for Every One of its members, and Bryony Frost in particular.

Seeing the evidence and the ruling as a slur on the character and behaviour of the majority missed the point. This is a culture that needs to look at itself and adapt to a more inclusive way in the future.

It is said that you should judge your behaviour in any environment by how you would feel if it was played back to you in front of your family.

This will pass and things will get better. Justice has been served. It just should have been accepted with better grace.

 

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