Culture Of Respect Working Party Established

A cross-industry working party has been established to agree an action plan that will pave the way for improving the culture of respect in British racing. In the wake of the Bryony Frost/Robbie Dunne case, in which Dunne was banned from riding for 18 months for prolonged bullying and intimidation of Frost, racing's major stakeholder bodies issued a statement last month reiterating their commitment to take wide-ranging action to offer support and education to industry participants around behaviours.

The representatives of the culture of respect working party, which will meet monthly and be chaired by the BHA's Head of Industry Training and Retention Adam Green, is also made up of the BHA's Head Of Diversity Rose Grissell, Legal Regulation Advisor Tomas Nolan and Communications Consultant Emma Rouse; National Trainers Federation Chief Executive Paul Johnson; Professional Jockeys Association Acting Chief Executive Dale Gibson and jockey representatives Page Fuller and Andrew Mullen; National Association Of Racing Staff Chief Executive George McGrath; Racehorse Owners Association Executive Assistant Ruth Diver; the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's Colin Bryce; the Racecourse Association's Raceday Experience and Communications Manager Paul Swain; Racing Welfare's Director Of Welfare Simone Sear; and independent representative Dr. Eleanor Boden.

“There has been progress in racing in recent years towards improving a culture of respect, but it is important that we all acknowledge that there is more to be done,” said Green. “Having been a part of conducting the Code of Conduct consultation across the industry, I am left in no doubt that there is an overwhelming appetite from all quarters to improve the culture of respect and make sure that everybody involved in the sport is supportive of one another. The working party reflects the commitment from everyone to effect meaningful change for the future of racing.”