Scrutiny on horseracing and in particular the weighing room culture has never been greater because of the allegations of bullying made by Bryony Frost against fellow jump jockey Robbie Dunne.
Frost’s allegations have also put the sport on trial.
Let me state now, some of the weighing room facilities and the situations they create, especially for young female jockeys entering the sport, are not fit for purpose. That rings true irrespective of the outcome of the Frost-Dunne case.
Lizzie Kelly (pictured) says weighing rooms are not fit for purpose for young female jockeys
I am not alone in being uncomfortable about how the British Horseracing Authority have handled the investigation into Frost’s complaints.
They seem to have lost control of the case, with leaked documents appearing in a Sunday newspaper and the unexplained departure of an employee who conducted the investigation. It has also taken far too long to bring this case to a conclusion.
There has been speculation about weighing room culture and accusations of a code of silence among jockeys when they are asked about the case.
All complaints must be thoroughly investigated, although a situation where bullying is routinely allowed and even condoned in the weighing room is not something I recognise.
But the physical layout of many weighing rooms can lead a young female jockey into potentially uncomfortable situations. That is a massive issue and needs to be addressed urgently.
Bryony Frost (pictured) has cast the issue under the spotlight after making bullying claims
The British Horseracing Authority is in the midst of a row after Frost made claims against Robbie Dunne (pictured)
For context, you need to understand how weighing rooms work. Some were designed when jockeys were still all men.
Male and female jockeys have separate changing areas. There may be communal zones, a tea room and TVs to watch the racing. Valets are employed and paid by riders on a sliding scale — depending on how many rides they have each day — to wash their racing kit and look after their
