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Racing's difficulty in managing social media attacks on jockeys

Roar Guru
26th September, 2016
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Jockey Glen Boss (left) talks to trainer John O'Shea. (AAP Image/Sergio Dionisio)
Roar Guru
26th September, 2016
2

The rise to prominence of social media has allowed us, the punter, to have our say and voice our opinion on all the important matters regarding the industry.

But there is a fine line when doing that. While it would never be crossed in person, the anonymity of the Internet has created a direct line of correspondence without much fear of repercussions.

Twitter has allowed the easiest of access for punters to unleash their thoughts to riders. For the most part, like the following, it is 140 characters of just utter crap – or worse.

I’ll take a couple of examples I came across recently on Twitter. (All quotes verbatim)

‘Nick Jones’, a user who has no proper photos of himself/herself on the account, told Craig Williams on September 23″ “I hope you fall and break every bone in your f…… body but you live and you’re a cripple”.

Then on September 25 he told Dwayne Dunn: “your a dead set dog of a Man !! Your lucky your daughter rides good” to which Dunn responded: “f…… ever speak of our daughter like that again and there will be hell you f… whit, way below the belt.”

Charming stuff, I know.

Talented Sydney apprentice Blaike McDougall was fined $200 by Racing NSW stewards last week for using inappropriate language in a private Facebook message to a person who was critical of a recent ride of his. That’s a particularly hard one to side with either way.

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On one hand, I understand the fine because it is all about the image of the industry and keeping it in tact. On the other, my philosophy is that if you have a go at someone, be prepared to cop it in return – especially in private.

But there is a line, and the examples shown above clearly show that the line was well and truly crossed.

Unfortunately, for the most part, that is the case when you scroll down the Twitter feed. The attackers hidden behind their computers and phones are nasty, vicious and puerile.

Jockeys are athletes, but they are also humans. We all make mistakes.

But the pressure cooker that is the racing industry can take its toll, especially for younger riders, and the best option is to give up a potential career.

I am all for punters sharing their thoughts, whether it be feedback or criticism. because whether it be any profession, you have to take that along with the praise and kudos. But that should be as far as it goes.

The problem is money – as soon as people lose money from what they see is a mistake, the vitriol becomes far worst.

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The powers at be may need to look at some sort form of rules/laws when it comes to users and personal attacks like the ones mentioned above. It is common knowledge how hard jockeys do it, and the toll it takes on them physically and mentally.

Something needs to be put in place as a deterrent for those who are guilty of crossing the line as the problem shows no signs of going away.

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