'This one was more vile than usual' - trainer Katie Scott speaks out over abuse

Trainer Katie Scott has publicly called out abusive emails she has been subjected to in the latest of a string of horrendous social media messages endured throughout her career.

Scott posted screenshots on Twitter of the abusive emails she received after two runners at Wolverhampton finished fourth at last Friday's evening meeting.

"I get them all the time on Twitter, I've had a couple of texts in the past and some go to more effort and send an email," said Scott. "I suppose that way they can say whatever they want with anonymity – it takes only five minutes to make an account.

"You sort of get used to them but the one I got on Friday was particularly aggressive. I'm going to make an effort to report this one to the police because it was more vile than usual, but I do wonder what they are actually able to do."

Scott is the latest in the sport to speak out against online abuse after a Racing Post investigation revealed a pattern of threatening messages experienced by young jockeys last year.

'It happens to everyone and it's awful'

The trainer, who has been contacted by her local member of parliament in the Scottish Borders, has suffered abuse for more than six years.

She said: "I had my first runner as a licensed trainer in 2015 and I got my first email that night. The horse won that day too, yet I still got an abusive email.

"That first one hit me, I think it said something like I hope you break your legs and die. I thought it was strange but now I realise those kind of messages are normal. It doesn't really bother me any more, I'm quite a strong person, but it happens to everyone and it's awful.

"At the moment my horses are running well, I'm happy and in a good space. I've got brilliant staff and owners but if things weren't so good it could knock you down. I'm lucky I'm in a position where I'm mentally able to brush it off."

The necessity of attracting new owners makes trainers particularly vulnerable to internet trolls, with many including Scott advertising their contact details online.

"Mostly the messages come through social media but the difference for trainers is that our phone numbers and emails are out there for anyone to find," she said. "We want to be accessible to owners but it leaves you open for anyone to get in touch.

"It's a choice whether you ignore it or give it attention and I just decided the other night that it was not on. The horse in question had won his previous two races and underperformed that day.

"It was disappointing for all of us. I don't want to send a horse all the way to Wolverhampton to come fourth, we want to win. I think some people forget that sometimes."

Katie Scott writes a column for our weekly Racing & Football Outlook paper, out every Tuesday

Read this next:

'Wish you break your neck and never ride again' – social media abuse laid bare

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday