Troubling Milton Harris case, and the muted reaction, shows racing's deep-rooted problems still exist
THE extra things change the more they stay the identical.
If we've discovered something in racing through the years, it's that motion on the surface doesn't essentially equate to a shift deep down within the roots.
Which is why I'm not stunned the response to the Milton Harris news this week has been pretty muted.
The Sutton Veny trainer was stripped of his licence following the conclusion of a four-day listening to, with the BHA not relating to him as a 'match and proper individual'.
Perhaps it's indicative of prevailing attitudes within the sport, jumps racing particularly, but clearly some simply don't see it as that huge a deal.
Harris will argue the hearing, investigation and BHA judicial panel's written reasons have been one-sided – however the proof makes for pretty grim studying.
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Let's cope with the bullying of trainer and neighbour Simon Earle first.
It's clear from the snippets of recordings made public that Harris was appearing aggressively in front of others to attempt to maximise Earle's humiliation.&
Like all bullies, I'm uncertain he'd have had the courage to behave that approach if he didn't have an viewers.
We've all had disagreements sooner or later or one other, but he crossed a line and behaved like a 12-year-old within the playground – not knowledgeable coach.
Probably the most superb details within the report was that he provided Earle out, beneath 'Queensberry Rules', to settle a dispute.
He even claimed to have dealt with disputes by having had boxing matches up to now. Final I appeared, it was 2024, not 1954.
I feel for Earle, however probably the most troubling part of this saga was Harris' behaviour around young female members of employees at his yard.
Within the 17,000-word doc outlining the panel's written reasons, it was revealed he repeatedly messaged a young secure lass, who was between 14 and 16 on the time and known as SJO, privately on WhatsApp.
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The panel expressed considerations about his show picture on WhatsApp, which is an image of a naked lady, and the very fact he saved her identify as 'Pretty Young Woman' on his telephone.
They deemed his behaviour to be controlling, and he even texted her on occasions demanding to know why she was out, where she was and who she was with.
In individual, he lifted up her prime to make enjoyable of her weight and made a habit of steering conversations in the direction of grownup and sexual subjects.
And he typically visited her in the on-site hostel, standing in the doorway to her room and mentioning topics like contraception and what boys she had seen.
SJO was a toddler who reportedly had a troubled house life and was thought-about a 'weak' individual by the BHA – so does his behaviour appear appropriate to you?
Harris tried to use her family points as justification for his actions, claiming he was simply appearing as a 'father figure'.&
He's clearly oblivious that he was, in reality, giving off creepy uncle vibes. Truly, he's old enough to be her grandad.
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It was all completely inappropriate and confirmed a transparent disregard for the woman's boundaries – and I'm not satisfied this kind of drawback isn't wider-reaching.
Earlier this month, the Bryony Frost and Robbie Dunne saga was dug up once more after a Sunday Occasions article by David Walsh.
He didn't truly write anything we didn't already know concerning the case, but the reaction in some quarters was bleak – Neil Callan's tasteless Tweet, which I highlighted a fortnight ago, being a major instance.
It was confirmed that Dunne had bullied Frost, yet in a whole lot of yards and weighing rooms across the country, she is seen because the villain.
I wouldn't go as far to say sexism is rife in racing, because ladies are getting extra opportunities now than ever before.
However it is still a problem and there's a distinct lack of respect from numerous men in the direction of ladies and women, all through the business.
There are undoubtedly extra good eggs than dangerous on this nice recreation of ours, and we might be kidding ourselves if we thought we'd ever weed out all of the dangerous'uns.
We will, at the least, call this behaviour out on the subject of mild. Retaining quiet isn't an choice.
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