20 Jul 26

So it's been brought to my attention that jockeys (of gallopers) and drivers (of Standardbreds) horses are being bullied.

...and not just a little bit.

So badly that restrictions have now been put in place so their personal details are not available to the public.

Why?  You ask.

Have they been slapping the horses around?

Whipping to the point of exhaustion?

Or possibly a bit of slap and tickle where it is inappropriate?

No...no...nothing as base as that.

It is, instead, very simple,

They haven't won.

You heard me.

People are tracking down these great lads and lasses, and abusing the fuck out of them for not winning a race.

Now, there are between 8 and 18 horses per race.

That means that there are between 7 and 17 jockeys and drivers (not to mention horses) not winning.

I blame primary schools for this behaviour.

Everything started to go to Hell when the Powers That Be decided to forgo Winners and Losers and instead started giving out Participation Certificates for just turning up.

Well, look how that turned out.

Anyway, my apologies, I went off on a tangent there for a moment, but to be fair, we both know I'm right.

But back to jockeys and drivers.

The people who are the least responsible for a non-win.  

They don't train the horses, feed the horses, exercise the horses, or look after the horses in the stables.

Which is where all the winning starts.

Then they have to get on a horse they don't know, trust the Trainer, the food, the exercise, and then ride to a win.

...and it's a bummer for them when they don't.

I've been here, behind the scenes.  

Trust me, the jockeys and drivers hate to lose more than you do.

But anyway, this comes down to what I've been banging on about recently,

Stop acting like an self-entitled dickwad, own your choices, and stop the fucking abuse.

Got to say though, it's times like this that I miss the days where you just gave someone a slap and was done with it.

Love always,

T and Spirit and the tribe.

* I respect the Elders of the Land where I live, laugh, love, work and play - Past, Present and Future.