萌妹社区 (BHA) welcomes the finding of the independent Disciplinary Panel that jockey Robbie Dunne is in breach of four counts of Rule (J)19 and to impose聽an 18 month suspension聽upon him.In our view this decision,聽and the comments of the independent Judicial Panel,聽reflect聽the seriousness of the accusations. It sends a clear message that conduct of this nature cannot be tolerated in any working environment within our sport.
This case has been a ground-breaking one for聽British racing,聽the first of its kind,聽and it is important that it acts聽as a catalyst for聽further聽change within the industry.
We understand that, for the vast majority of those who work in the sport 鈥� and in particular in the jockeys鈥櫬爓eighing room 鈥� it is a positive, supportive, welcoming place.聽We recognise the pressures on those involved in the sport, and that temperatures will at times be raised.However,聽there is a line as to what is acceptable.聽It is essential that when something does go wrong that people feel that they can call聽out聽bad behaviour, and not be made to suffer in silence.聽The independent Judicial聽Panel Chair聽voiced concerns聽regarding聽these issues in his聽judgement. We聽call on everyone in the industry to recognise this.聽聽By stepping forward to聽report聽the behaviour of which she was on the receiving end, Bryony Frost聽took聽a courageous step. We hope that others聽who may be in similar positions聽will聽feel comfortable聽doing聽the same.
Improving workplace聽standards聽and wellbeing聽within the sport is an issue聽into which聽racing has invested significant time and resource聽in recent years. Nothing is more important than our people and our horses. The formation of an industry People Board has helped focus attention on improving standards, education and training. Progress聽is聽being聽made on improving the facilities that our athletes use, in particular our female participants. The sport聽will soon be聽putting in place a聽collaborative,聽cross-industry Code of Conduct.
However, more聽can聽always be done. We must聽move forward from聽this case聽and聽define聽the sort of language and conduct that is acceptable in a place of work. This is about more than just the jockeys鈥櫬爓eighing room, but the whole industry. We must take positive steps across the sport to ensure that British racing is a welcoming place to work for everyone.聽We will issue more detail as to our next steps on this front in the near future.
This was a聽difficult, sensitive and complex case, with numerous witnesses. Charges for the case were lodged in April, but subsequent to this there were significant legal representations made by the defence solicitors, which 鈥� in order to ensure fairness to all parties 鈥� had to be聽considered聽in full.聽The case has been handled with professionalism, and this聽is reflected in the outcome.
However, there are also lessons that can, and will, be learned. We will be reviewing the proceedings聽and speaking to the Chair of the Independent Judicial Panel regarding case management. It is important that聽we ensure聽that聽future聽cases are managed quickly, in the interests of all parties.
Finally, we recognise that this聽has been聽a difficult period for all involved,聽in particular聽for聽Robbie Dunne and Bryony Frost.聽We ask that the聽privacy and聽wellbeing of聽both is聽now聽respected.聽It聽is important that聽both are now聽supported聽by the BHA, their colleagues and their聽representative body the PJA.
Notes to editors:
1. The BHA Judicial Panel is an independent聽body which encompasses the Disciplinary Panel, Appeal Board and Licensing Committee. It receives administrative support from the BHA via the Judicial Panel Secretary.
2.聽Details of Rules (J)19 and (J)20, alongside penalty guidance, can be found聽.
