Social media-savvy trainer and former jumps rider Jamie Osborne made a splash on Twitter Wednesday evening when he posted a screenshot of a disturbing message sent to his daughter, 19-year-old apprentice jockey Saffie Osborne. The trainer called for punishment and platform bans of the perpetrator, and said the incident has been referred to police, according to racingpost.com.
“I know jockeys get messages all the time, and I don’t know what proportion of them get reported, but I think there comes a point where enough is enough,” Osborne told racingpost.com. “I know Saffie has been getting them. But the nature and the tone of this one was, in my mind, a step too far, and I don’t see why jockeys should have to put up with this on a regular basis without there seemingly being any call for action.”
Multiple social media users stepped up to support Osborne, including leading trainer Mark Johnston, who is also pursuing police action with a similar abusive message sent to jockey Joe Fanning.
Issues with cyber bulling caused the British Horseracing Authority to join with other sports in a social media blackout during the first weekend of May, and a spokesperson for the BHA told racingpost.com: “Everyone at the BHA was appalled to learn of the abuse received by Saffie Osborne. The BHA has been in touch with Saffie and her family to offer our support and it has been heartening to see the racing community uniting to condemn this abhorrent behavior.”
Read more at racingpost.com.
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