I've been abused and harassed for doing my job. It needs to stop

The topic of the abuse jockeys face on social media, which featured in the Racing Post's Big Read on Sunday, has long been something I relate to.

Sportspeople are natural targets for internet trolls, such is the public nature of their job, but without wishing to distract from their plight, the issue is not exclusive to any particular group of people, and this is an important distinction to make.

My experience of online abuse began when I was 15 and accelerated when I joined the Racing Post as an intern aged 19, my first full-time job.

I was not yet six months into the role when a person I had never met repeatedly harassed me online.

I cannot recall his exact words – we have since blocked each other and the specifics of the incident blur into a catalogue of similar comments – but he proceeded by targeting my family and began a campaign to get me sacked.

Indeed, if you visit his Twitter profile today there remains a screenshot of a T-shirt with the words 'Sack Maddy P' and a photograph of my face on the front.

Like the jockeys quoted in Sunday's feature, in the last few years I have learned to ignore and block offenders and can reflect on the episode with a laugh, but that is in no way an attempt to trivialise an issue which can have catastrophic consequences.

Saffie Osborne: one of the jockeys quoted in Sunday's special report focused on social media abuseCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

I am not afraid to admit there have been times when vitriolic comments have reduced me to tears and made me question the love I have for my job – and I am not alone in being made to feel this way.

Had the man mentioned above behaved this way in person, his actions would have been universally and unequivocally condemned. He may have even been prosecuted.

So why should abusive people be permitted and go unpunished online, where they are immortalised and leave behind a traceable footprint?

Social media companies are coming under increasing pressure to take responsibility for abuse and discrimination, as emphasised by a four-day boycott at the end of April, which was supported by individuals and businesses across the globe, including the Racing Post and the Weekender.

My colleague Lewis Porteous, who penned the Big Read, labelled social media abuse as a modern-day plague, and in some ways you can liken it to the pandemic the world has worked so tirelessly to alleviate in the last 18 months.

It has the potential to impact us all, regardless of our job, and should be treated proportionately to the damage it can cause.

Like with coronavirus, the response to this issue cannot be immediate and is not straightforward, but if there is one thing we can agree on it is that we should be aiming to secure a safer digital future for all. The time to start building towards it is now.

Classic generation key to fascinating Juddmonte

My primary emotion when St Mark's Basilica was declared a non-runner in Wednesday's Juddmonte International was disappointment, but not for the reason you might think.

Yes, it is unfortunate we won't be able to see him, but I thought he had all the makings of a vulnerable favourite. The Eclipse he won was suspect to say the least, while the form of his French Group 1 wins is far from rock solid.

In his absence, Love has been substituted in and similarly I'd have little desire to back her at 11-4. I think she ran right up to her best in the King George and can't see why she should reverse that form with Mishriff, who is clearly better than he showed at Sandown and is the deserved favourite.

I don't think he is unbeatable, though, and even with St Mark's Basilica out I think the market is underestimating the three-year-olds, who have won four of the last seven runnings.

Alcohol Free is a terrific filly but she looks a suspect stayer on pedigree and has so far produced her best on a soft surface, while Mohaafeth is clearly very talented but has yet to convince a race of this nature is within his grasp at this stage of his career.

I much prefer his stablemate Alenquer, who I tipped for the Arc in this column after his King Edward VII Stakes success at Royal Ascot.

Alenquer (centre) could threaten in Wednesday's Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The form book doesn't lie and his defeat of Adayar, Yibir, Lone Eagle and Sir Lucan on good ground at Sandown in April puts him firmly in the picture, especially considering he gets 4lb from Love and 7lb from Mishriff and is 12-1.

That performance came over the International trip and, although he was more than seven lengths behind Hurricane Lane in the Grand Prix de Paris last time, the way the race was run transpired against him with few horses making up any meaningful ground from the rear. He still flew home late to be third.

Mohaafeth needs a strong pace to aim at, as we found out in a disaster of a York Stakes last time, and I am hoping Tom Marquand will make the most of Alenquer's stamina and push him forward like he did at Sandown.

There isn't another confirmed front-runner in the field, and even if Love challenged for the lead I think it would only work in his favour, as I have little doubt he would stay 1m6f, so there is space for some opportunistic riding.

The other one to consider is Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney, who is four points bigger than Alenquer despite being 8lb superior on ratings and sure to be advantaged by the step back in trip after contesting both Derbys.

All of his victories have come on ground worse than good, but I don't think his preference is sufficiently conclusive yet and his connections maintain he will handle a faster surface.

Read more:

Members' Club: 'I've had threats of setting fire to my yard and doing unspeakable things to me'

Racing joins social media boycott in protest against online abuse

Young jockeys to be given guidance to handle 'sickening' social media abuse

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