Robbie Dunne subjected Bryony Frost to misogynistic tirade, panel is told

Robbie Dunne subjected Bryony Frost to a misogynistic campaign of verbal and physical intimidation and bullying that was dangerous and in breach of the rules of racing, a disciplinary panel was told on Tuesday.

Dunne, 36, was accused by the BHA of repeatedly using foul and abusive language towards Frost, 26, including calling her a "f****** whore" and a "dangerous c***", which left the leading female rider in tears, as well as making threats to physically harm his weighing-room colleague. Dunne denies all breaches of prejudicial conduct and two of the three charges of verbal abuse.

On a day that was limited to little more than an hour after legal arguments, the BHA outlined its case against Dunne on charges of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the reputation of racing, and verbally abusing a fellow rider following months of delays, media leaks and recriminations.

Louis Weston, representing the BHA, said the ill-feeling between the riders dated back to 2017, and that Dunne had mocked Frost for her emotional interview after winning the 2019 Ryanair Chase on Frodon while also engaging in "cyber bullying" towards the rider on the day of the 2020 Virtual Grand National – behaviour that Dunne accepted was "unprofessional".

Dunne was accused of mocking Frost for her emotional interview after winning the Ryanair Chase on Frodon in 2019Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.cpm/photos)

Subsequently, the animosity between the two riders increased with Dunne alleged to have confronted Frost following a race at Stratford where he engaged in verbal abuse.

"After they have stopped riding, Mr Dunne rides up to Ms Frost and you can see that he is speaking to her very loudly," Weston said.

"What he is said to have said to Ms Frost are words to the effect that you are a f****** whore and you're a dangerous c***. And if you ever f****** murder me [cut me up] like that again, I'll murder you."

Weston went on to state that Frost called her father, Grand National-winning rider Jimmy Frost, on her way home from Stratford and was urged to stop driving by him having been reduced to tears by the incident.

"She relayed that Mr Dunne had called her a c*** and a whore, told her she shouldn't be there and that he would murder her," Weston said.

"It must have been some conversation between a daughter and a father. She must have been properly concerned to ring her father and say those things and to do so shortly after they had been said to her."

Weston stated that Frost had made similar statements to her brother Hadden and mother Nicola, who she also told that "in other workplaces this would not be tolerated, but in ours it's put down to weighing-room banter".

Weighing room culture under fire after Dunne-Frost bullying case is leaked

The three-person panel was also shown video footage of three races in which Dunne is alleged to have ridden in an intimidating way towards Frost, while he is said to have told Frost after riding at Uttoxeter in August last year that "I'm going to stop you murdering everyone and I'm going to murder you", which was described as being "conduct that is simply unacceptable" by Weston.

The BHA stated that Frost felt compelled to report Dunne after riding at Southwell on September 3 last year when Dunne, who accepted a charge of verbally abusing and threatening a fellow jockey for the incident, told Frost that "the next time I'm riding against you I promise I will put you through a wing".

Weston continued: "He's threatening to do her a very serious injury. She replies 'what's your problem' and he says 'my problem is you murdering. Next time I'm going to hurt you.'

"He has it in his head that Ms Frost has ridden in a way that he deems to be dangerous – that is what he believes and there is no dispute that that is what he believes. However, he believes he is entitled to become an enforcer and makes threats to her to do very serious harm. There's no defence whatsoever for calling someone a f****** whore, a f****** s*** or a dangerous c***.

"What he seems to be saying is that he, as a jockey with a certain level of experience, is entitled to do this as part of an educational process. Even though Ms Frost is more successful than him, she must be corrected."

Dunne disputed the wording in the argument and outlined in a witness statement that he had been called four days after Southwell by someone who "threatened to break his legs". He also outlined how the leaking of the BHA's investigation to The Sunday Times had caused him "upset and hardship".

While neither Dunne nor his representatives spoke on Tuesday, Weston detailed the BHA's interpretation of some of the defence the rider had put forward in his witness statement. This included "victim blaming" Frost, saying it was dependent on female riders to remove themselves from the weighing room to avoid seeing male nudity, that "senior jockey can lecture junior jockeys...when they need correcting" and that "it's all okay if you apologise", apparently highlighting another occasion Frost was called a c*** by another rider whom she forgave after they had said sorry.

The hearing continues.

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