Respected trainer condemns ‘disgusting’ online abuse
Grahame Begg stands up to trolls and wants to put an end to the vile abuse and destructive behaviour in the sport
Victorian trainer Grahame Begg has vehemently hit out at online trolls who are sending abusive emails and text messages to his stable.
Begg, who enjoyed success at his home track on Saturday with promising two-year-old filly Libiamo (Written Tycoon), said a stream of nasty messages had recently come through via his stable’s official website and pleaded for a stop to the destructive behaviour.
An emotional Begg didn’t hold back when describing the tone of the communication that he’s been receiving.
“It’s always really disappointing to be truthful.
“Even on Saturday we had a horse that ran really well in the last race that tried his guts out and then you get these vile sort of emails from people that subscribe to your website and are wishing the worst upon the horse saying things like I hope he breaks his neck getting on the float.
“It’s disgusting really what you have to put up with,” said Begg.
He explained that the abuse wasn’t just targeted at his horses but also extended to some of his staff.
“I have even had emails about one of our jockeys saying I hope he breaks every bone in his body.”
Gravely concerned about its negative impact, he said the abuse needed to be called out.
“All this sort of garbage goes on and the funny part about it is you always get them (the messages) within five minutes of a race going past. It’s amazing. They are gutless people.
“They ought to be called out for what they are. If they don’t want to cop backing a loser then don’t punt, it’s pretty simple,” he said.
He explained that abusers were using either Gmail or Hotmail accounts to convey their ill feeling.
“The fact they subscribe to your website and are able to post a message is just disgraceful. But they are not making direct threats against you so you can’t really do anything about it.
“It really needs to stop but it’s impossible, that’s the thing.
“All the trainers put their heart and soul into it with their staff to achieve certain goals and get results, I don’t think it’s called for.”
It was revealed last week by South Australian trainer John MacMillan that abuse from trolls and bullies almost saw Jamie Kah quit the sport several years ago.
Internationally, online abuse has been a deep cause of concern from trainers, jockeys and racing authorities.
In June, 19-year-old UK apprentice Saffie Osborne received a shocking and horrific message on social media that prompted her father, Lambourn–based trainer Jamie Osborne, to contact the police.
A successful jumps jockey during his time in the saddle, he posted a screenshot of the message on his Twitter account stating that the abuse had “gone too far”.
“I will now begin a crusade to have these people banned from all platforms and will not shy away from bringing prosecutions,” he said in the tweet.
In May, British racing took part in a social media boycott with the sporting community in a show of solidarity against what they deemed as “unacceptable online hate”.
The UK’s Equine Productions recently released a trailer previewing their latest film, The Fall, which will be shown on television later this year.
The powerful short film focuses on the mental health of jockeys and aims to raise awareness of mental illness within the sport of horse racing. The 22–minute film centers on a jockey having to deal with the shocking aftermath of a high-profile fall at the final fence in an important preparation race for the famed Cheltenham Festival.
The Fall follows the journey of the jockey on the way home from the races, tackling the notion that jockeys, and sports people more widely, suffer in silence from mental health issues.