Well-known Irish jockey Robbie Dunne has been banned for 18 months, with three of those months suspended after the 42-year-old was found guilty of allegations of “bullying and harassing” Bryony Frost.
Dunne was charged with and found guilty of four counts of conduct contrary to the sport’s rules and prejudicial to the reputation of horseracing. Three further charges relating to violent or improper conduct are yet to be considered and could lead to a lengthening of the ban if he is found guilty.
The British Horseracing Authority brought the charges against Dunne, who presented evidence to the independent panel of what had been described as a “weighing-room culture”.
The panel was chaired by Brian Barker CBE, who has previously served as the Recorder of London and is the most senior judge at the Old Bailey. Barker said of Dunne’s conduct that “deliberate conduct over a course of a significant period of time has been revealed”.
Barker said that the accused was guilty of “distasteful targeting, deliberate harassment on and off track, and occasional cases of dangerous bullying” and added that the panel had concerns over the weighing-room culture, which he described as “deep-rooted and coercive”.
Bryony Frost, Dunne’s accuser in the case, was the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race at the Cheltenham Festival. The 26-year-old, after the case, thanked everyone who had supported her during the case.
“I wish now to take a few days to reflect on the outcome before I make any further comment,” Frost added.
“I ask the media to please give me and the people closest to me a few days of privacy. I need to focus on my upcoming rides over the weekend.”
The British Horseracing Authority said it welcomed the guilty verdict and that the severe nature of the ban reflects “the seriousness of the accusations”. The Authority called the case “groundbreaking” and added that it hoped this case would be a “catalyst for further change within the industry”.
“It is essential that when something does go wrong that people feel that they can call out bad behaviour, and not be made to suffer in silence,” the BHA said.
“By stepping forward to report the behaviour of which she was on the receiving end, Bryony Frost took a courageous step.
“We hope that others who may be in similar positions will feel comfortable doing the same.
“We must move forward from this case and define the sort of language and conduct that is acceptable in a place of work.”
The Professional Jockeys Association, who represented the interests of both Robbie Dunne and Bryony Frost, said they had “great sympathy” with Frost, who “felt bullied” and said it showed “courage” for her to go through the process.
However, whilst the Professional Jockeys Association admitted that Dunne’s conduct had fallen well short of the standards it expects, they strongly opposed the panel’s findings and believed that Dunne had not had the benefit of a “remotely fair process”.
“It is a grossly inaccurate and wholly unfair representation of the weighing room and a conclusion we believe is at odds with the evidence presented,” the PJA said.
“The BHA’s stance is made worse by the fact that for years the PJA and its female members have been raising concerns with the BHA about the inadequate facilities for female riders and for years the BHA did nothing.
“We say it is no coincidence that the BHA has only shown an interest in driving change over the last few months in light of this case.”
