The association, which represents the interests of jockeys, say “a fair hearing is impossible” after detailed information about the case was published in the Sunday Times.
According to the newspaper, which also published the article online, the jockey had been charged with “conduct prejudicial to the integrity or good reputation” of racing.“
Part of the information revealed in the leak was the charge letter and accompanying documentation, both of which should have only been available to the British Horseracing Authority, Robbie Dunne and his legal representatives.
The Times article reveals details of two written statements submitted to the British Horseracing Authority over a year ago. One of the statements was from Bryony Frost, the first female jockey to win a Grade One race over obstacles at the 2019 Cheltenham British horse racing Festival. She claimed that Robbie Dunne had threatened her, and she felt threatened by him and feared for her well-being.
The leak also contained a statement from Hannah Welch, who rode as an amateur until June 2020. In Welch’s testimony, she claimed she “was not treated with respect as a jockey” and claimed that on one occasion after a race at Chepstow in October 2018, Dunne “ was squaring and mouthing off at me”. Welch also claimed that the jockey “swore at me multiple times … in front of the entire weighing room”.
Also, in her statement, Welch added, “I was crying and did not say anything back. When I look back on this, I find it bizarre that none of the other jockeys intervened and said to Mr Dunne he had gone far enough.”
Dunne, when confronted by the accusations, said that he did recognise the incidents described by Welch. I Four current female jockeys Page Fuller, Millie Wonnacott, Lilly Pinchin and Gina Andrews, told investigators that they had not been on the receiving end of Dunne’s “crudeness”.
The Professional Jockeys Association state: “The matter cannot now be permitted to proceed, and we call upon the BHA to bring this matter to an end, however unsatisfactory that is”.
In a new statement released earlier this week, they said that while they wouldn’t normally make statements on an ongoing investigation, it felt it “must comment on the current, deeply concerning situation”.
It read: “The length of time taken in bringing this case to a conclusion is unacceptable,” the statement read. “Now that material has been leaked to the media, and the information leaked is the charge letter and accompanying documentation that should only have been available to the BHA, Robbie Dunne and his legal advisors, a fair hearing is impossible. The matter cannot now be permitted to proceed, and we call upon the BHA to bring this matter to an end, however unsatisfactory that is.”
The PJA statement continued: “The PJA is aware that its membership is upset by the negative headlines about the culture in the weighing room that have been circulating this past week. The PJA understands and sympathises with their frustration, particularly from those female jockeys who have contacted us. We are grateful to them for respecting the process that must be allowed to conclude.
“The PJA published a Code of Conduct in May, which was the first of its kind in racing. We expect our members to abide by this code. We want to ensure that our sport welcomes everyone, and we agree that people need to be held to account against a set of rules and codes of expected behaviour.
“We do not, however, accept the explicit and implied criticism of our membership as laid out in recent articles. The PJA does accept that there are “heat of the moment” exchanges, not uncommon in sport, that are quickly resolved, and there may also be occasions when behaviours do fall short of the PJA’s Code of Conduct and the Rules of Racing.”
Although the British Horseracing Authority has not responded to the PJA’s statement directly, it did comment on the media leak. Saying: “This case is close to reaching its conclusion, with directions hearings scheduled for the near future. It is an important case and one that the BHA is taking very seriously. Cases such as this may be complex and involve significant legal representation.
“In order to ensure fairness for all parties, such procedures – including the directions hearings – must be allowed to play out in full and in private rather than through the media.”
