THIS weekend we celebrate the news that, yesterday afternoon, Hollie Doyle broke her own record for winners in a season when she notched up victory number 152.
We also welcome the return to the saddle of Rachael Blackmore at Galway.
They both display the ultimate professionalism in the saddle, and they have helped to win over a new audience of racing followers, a welcome development when competition for people’s time is keen, and many other sporting disciplines and leisure activities are crowding that space.
It is equally unwelcome to pick up the newspapers last weekend, some of which were carrying the news on their front pages of Bryony Frost’s bullying and intimidation allegations against a fellow jockey, Robbie Dunne. He denies the allegations. At this point in time we must await the completion of what is an ongoing investigation.
I am not for a moment suggesting the story not be reported, but it referred to leaked documents, and one has to be cautious about such matters when they refer to a case that has yet to be concluded.
Whatever our feelings are, the authorities must do their work first. Then there can be justice served.
What we can say for certain is this. Bullying, harassment, intimidation and all forms of unwanted pressure, whether physical, verbal or psychological, are to be condemned. They have no place in society, and I shudder when I remember stories from the past when young people in training stables and on stud farms were subjected to what would, nowadays, be considered an assault.
Uncomfortable reading
A newspaper report this week about a number of alleged assaults on a former jockey by a valet in Britain made for very uncomfortable reading. Especially worrying was his assertion that when he reported an incident to the stewards they did nothing.
People in positions of authority have a duty of care to those they employ, manage or regulate. Doing nothing is not an option.
There is talk of a need to develop a code of conduct for industry participants, and the only shock here is that it does not already exist.
More than that, we must all take individual responsibility for our actions, and we must also watch out for colleagues and friends. Speaking up is vital when we see something wrong, something that makes us uncomfortable.
Having fun and banter is welcome, but we must always be aware of boundaries.