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17 Apr 23
17:49
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Date Joined:
07 Sep 15
I firmly believe these two principals ought to have been suspended from the sport for what the BHA adjudged to have happened. Instead the trainer was fined £8k, and senior member £3k - a paltry figure; video and audio provided to substantiate the case against them.
Two junior female member of staff: One was pressured by the trainer to continue riding despite carrying an injury to her ankle; an injury she continues to suffer from the effects today.
Another broke her jaw after an incident involving a horse in the yard; on her return asked not to ride the same horse again for fear of further injury, but was pressured to do so by the trainer. Again she was thrown off and re-injured the same jaw.
I do not know how to cut and paste otherwise I'd have posted the entire piece from the Racing Post. These two characters ought to have been suspended for their despicable and irresponsible behaviour in the yard, I firmly believe.
Two junior female member of staff: One was pressured by the trainer to continue riding despite carrying an injury to her ankle; an injury she continues to suffer from the effects today.
Another broke her jaw after an incident involving a horse in the yard; on her return asked not to ride the same horse again for fear of further injury, but was pressured to do so by the trainer. Again she was thrown off and re-injured the same jaw.
I do not know how to cut and paste otherwise I'd have posted the entire piece from the Racing Post. These two characters ought to have been suspended for their despicable and irresponsible behaviour in the yard, I firmly believe.
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Trainer Robyn Brisland oversaw a toxic culture of foul language, intimidation and belittlement towards junior members of stable staff at his yard which left them crying, afraid and in some cases resulted in serious injury.
Brisland and William Degnan, a senior member of staff at the yard, were fined by the disciplinary panel on Monday when a late plea agreement was struck between all sides. Four days had initially been set aside for the hearing.
Nevertheless, broad details of the accepted behaviour were outlined by the BHA “in the interests of transparency and access to justice” laying bare the attitudes and conduct of Brisland and Degnan towards other employees between September and December 2020.
Brisland accepted one breach of rule (J) 19 – conduct prejudicial to the integrity or good reputation of British racing – and two of rule (D) 21.2.2 – a trainer must train with due regard to the safety to their employees and agents – with the BHA stating “the matters are a course of conduct that are capable of amounting to bullying”. He was fined £8,000.
Genevieve Woods, representing the BHA, said: “While it is not suggested that Mr Brisland necessarily intended the conduct – the BHA is neutral on this – it is clear from the evidence that Mr Brisland was aware to some extent of the impact.
“For example, he accepts he saw [a staff member] in tears crying in the workplace. He believed she was crying for workplace-related reasons and yet he didn’t do anything in response to that, but maintained a course of conduct that was belittling, critical [and] swearing towards her. At the time she was a teenager.
“[Staff] talk of being afraid, feeling intimidated and belittled. Multiple people talk of crying or seeing others crying and we have evidence from multiple persons that they left their roles in racing as a result of this conduct.”
'They were shouting, swearing and belittling workers at the yard'
Woods highlighted the case of two female workers who sustained serious injuries while working for Brisland at Danebury Stables near Stockbridge in Hampshire. The first damaged her ankle while riding but “was pressured into continuing to ride” by Brisland and Degnan, with Woods stating the rider continued to “suffer from the effects of that injury today”.
On the second rider, Woods said: “Her jaw was split open to the bone and broken after an incident involving a horse in the yard. After that occurred she was not taken to hospital and an ambulance was not called, she had to make her own way with the assistance of other staff.
“On return to work she said she did not want to ride that particular horse because of fear of further injury. She was pressured to do so by Mr Brisland and was thrown from the horse and reinjured her jaw as a result.”
Alongside Brisland’s being found in breach of the rules of racing, Degnan accepted four breaches of rule (J) 20 – improper conduct. This was in place of an initial charge of breaching rule (J) 19. Degnan was fined £3,000.
Degnan was said by the BHA to have engaged in “a course of conduct over several months” against junior members of staff. Evidence against him included a video recording “which discloses very concerning conduct which includes loud volume, inappropriate phrasing and screaming, in effect, at a staff member”.
Degnan accepted using the phrases “a useless piece of s***”, “c***”, “f****** crap”and “f****** useless” towards junior staff, as well as labelling their riding as “s***”.
Concluding the BHA’s position, Woods said: “In order to maintain the integrity of horseracing it is important that unacceptable conduct such as this kind is responded to strongly and in accordance with the regulatory framework.
“This is a case where there were two people in senior roles in a workplace who engaged in similar improper behaviour over the same period of time. They were shouting, swearing and belittling workers at the yard. That created a toxic workplace culture where people in racing were harmed and traumatised, including teenagers.
“The respondents failed the people they were responsible for in the yard. We cannot countenance any suggestion that it is acceptable to speak to employees in this manner whether they make mistakes or are model workers. We cannot allow a culture or abuse to be perpetuated or tolerated.”
Roderick Moore, representing Brisland, said the trainer, who won Doncaster's Brocklesby Stakes with Doddie's Impact at the start of the month, “readily accepts his behaviour was reprehensible” and that he “apologises profusely for his behaviour and the distress he caused”.
Moore said coronavirus restrictions in place at the time put “real pressures on the yard” in terms of recruiting enough staff but added that “Mr Brisland knows he let himself down and he let the sport down”.
William Birch, representing Degnan, said his client “apologises openly and profusely” and that “he now understands why that conduct was improper and why it’s not appropriate to use that language in that environment”.
Birch said Degnan’s case would have been that his behaviour was that “he did not cause the toxic environment but was a product of it” having officially held the role of work-rider and stable staff member rather than anything more senior.
Brisland and William Degnan, a senior member of staff at the yard, were fined by the disciplinary panel on Monday when a late plea agreement was struck between all sides. Four days had initially been set aside for the hearing.
Nevertheless, broad details of the accepted behaviour were outlined by the BHA “in the interests of transparency and access to justice” laying bare the attitudes and conduct of Brisland and Degnan towards other employees between September and December 2020.
Brisland accepted one breach of rule (J) 19 – conduct prejudicial to the integrity or good reputation of British racing – and two of rule (D) 21.2.2 – a trainer must train with due regard to the safety to their employees and agents – with the BHA stating “the matters are a course of conduct that are capable of amounting to bullying”. He was fined £8,000.
Genevieve Woods, representing the BHA, said: “While it is not suggested that Mr Brisland necessarily intended the conduct – the BHA is neutral on this – it is clear from the evidence that Mr Brisland was aware to some extent of the impact.
“For example, he accepts he saw [a staff member] in tears crying in the workplace. He believed she was crying for workplace-related reasons and yet he didn’t do anything in response to that, but maintained a course of conduct that was belittling, critical [and] swearing towards her. At the time she was a teenager.
“[Staff] talk of being afraid, feeling intimidated and belittled. Multiple people talk of crying or seeing others crying and we have evidence from multiple persons that they left their roles in racing as a result of this conduct.”
'They were shouting, swearing and belittling workers at the yard'
Woods highlighted the case of two female workers who sustained serious injuries while working for Brisland at Danebury Stables near Stockbridge in Hampshire. The first damaged her ankle while riding but “was pressured into continuing to ride” by Brisland and Degnan, with Woods stating the rider continued to “suffer from the effects of that injury today”.
On the second rider, Woods said: “Her jaw was split open to the bone and broken after an incident involving a horse in the yard. After that occurred she was not taken to hospital and an ambulance was not called, she had to make her own way with the assistance of other staff.
“On return to work she said she did not want to ride that particular horse because of fear of further injury. She was pressured to do so by Mr Brisland and was thrown from the horse and reinjured her jaw as a result.”
Alongside Brisland’s being found in breach of the rules of racing, Degnan accepted four breaches of rule (J) 20 – improper conduct. This was in place of an initial charge of breaching rule (J) 19. Degnan was fined £3,000.
Degnan was said by the BHA to have engaged in “a course of conduct over several months” against junior members of staff. Evidence against him included a video recording “which discloses very concerning conduct which includes loud volume, inappropriate phrasing and screaming, in effect, at a staff member”.
Degnan accepted using the phrases “a useless piece of s***”, “c***”, “f****** crap”and “f****** useless” towards junior staff, as well as labelling their riding as “s***”.
Concluding the BHA’s position, Woods said: “In order to maintain the integrity of horseracing it is important that unacceptable conduct such as this kind is responded to strongly and in accordance with the regulatory framework.
“This is a case where there were two people in senior roles in a workplace who engaged in similar improper behaviour over the same period of time. They were shouting, swearing and belittling workers at the yard. That created a toxic workplace culture where people in racing were harmed and traumatised, including teenagers.
“The respondents failed the people they were responsible for in the yard. We cannot countenance any suggestion that it is acceptable to speak to employees in this manner whether they make mistakes or are model workers. We cannot allow a culture or abuse to be perpetuated or tolerated.”
Roderick Moore, representing Brisland, said the trainer, who won Doncaster's Brocklesby Stakes with Doddie's Impact at the start of the month, “readily accepts his behaviour was reprehensible” and that he “apologises profusely for his behaviour and the distress he caused”.
Moore said coronavirus restrictions in place at the time put “real pressures on the yard” in terms of recruiting enough staff but added that “Mr Brisland knows he let himself down and he let the sport down”.
William Birch, representing Degnan, said his client “apologises openly and profusely” and that “he now understands why that conduct was improper and why it’s not appropriate to use that language in that environment”.
Birch said Degnan’s case would have been that his behaviour was that “he did not cause the toxic environment but was a product of it” having officially held the role of work-rider and stable staff member rather than anything more senior.
Moore said coronavirus restrictions in place at the time put “real pressures on the yard” in terms of recruiting enough staff but added that “Mr Brisland knows he let himself down and he let the sport down”.
Im not sure how the above behaviours encourage existing staff to stay in a time of need, and if they did get the best out of them.
Im not sure how the above behaviours encourage existing staff to stay in a time of need, and if they did get the best out of them.
Agree with OP should have been dealt with more severely
'sparrow', many thanks.
I'm appalled these two characters are allowed to play such an important part in the sport. It's shocking beyond belief!
I'm appalled these two characters are allowed to play such an important part in the sport. It's shocking beyond belief!
If Brisland had treated an injured horse the way he treated those two staff members, he'd have lost his licence. One would like to think that he'll now lose any decent owners he has. Shockingly weak penalties.
In Ireland you get 6 months for sitting on a dead animal
In Ireland, you've IHRB. Here, BHA = Bloody Hopeless Authority!
I always thought he was a little creep in my opinion….I don’t know why people work for IT!
Just read the full thing this reptile (imo) should be jailed and warned off….
ITV and other channels will @rgasm over this little thing…..imo..
The BHA is pathetic with their lenient punishment. A ban is the very least for how these two characters treated their two female staff.
A Tribunal has more teeth and professional integrity than the BHA.
A Tribunal has more teeth and professional integrity than the BHA.
2 bullies in one yard, nothing worse than a bully. The fine is a poultry and I agree with poster above, should have his license revoked
Impossible,
To be fair, the punishments aren't decided by the BHA. It's an independent judicial panel that hears the evidence, with the BHA acting as the prosecuting lawyer. In effect, the role of the BHA is a combination of the police and the CPS - policecollect the evidence and the CPS present it, but they don't get to decide the penalty in a court case.
It's a system that was more or less forced on the BHA to remove the view that they were acting as judge and jury. I can't remember if this was when it was first set up to take over from the BHB, or some government action subsequently, but it's been like this for many years.
Cases like this prove it's a crap system, but they're stuck with it.
To be fair, the punishments aren't decided by the BHA. It's an independent judicial panel that hears the evidence, with the BHA acting as the prosecuting lawyer. In effect, the role of the BHA is a combination of the police and the CPS - policecollect the evidence and the CPS present it, but they don't get to decide the penalty in a court case.
It's a system that was more or less forced on the BHA to remove the view that they were acting as judge and jury. I can't remember if this was when it was first set up to take over from the BHB, or some government action subsequently, but it's been like this for many years.
Cases like this prove it's a crap system, but they're stuck with it.
Info on the system here:
https://judicialpanel.britishhorseracing.com/
https://judicialpanel.britishhorseracing.com/
Thank-you 'TheAnorak' for the info.
I think it's time a representation to a relevant entity associated with horseracing to appeal for a justified and appropriate punishment to reflect the shameful and bullying behaviour and attitude of trainer Mr Brisland and his senior staff. What the two female staff experienced at the yard of Mr Brisland was shocking and reprehensible, and a ban is the very least that could be expected.
I think it's time a representation to a relevant entity associated with horseracing to appeal for a justified and appropriate punishment to reflect the shameful and bullying behaviour and attitude of trainer Mr Brisland and his senior staff. What the two female staff experienced at the yard of Mr Brisland was shocking and reprehensible, and a ban is the very least that could be expected.
What a difference between the barbarian (imo) and Aiden O’Brien regarding the treatment of staff….
Not a lot being said about this on the news unsurprisingly….only a split jaw showing bone and refusing to call an ambulance….tears and probably surname
Come racing…..are you watching Apiafi ?
Come racing…..are you watching Apiafi ?
This is shocking plenty of jobs in racing staff should vote with their feet.Fine was just a slap on the wrist just not good enough.
Are we to assume that the stable staff have not got Trade Union representation?
However, we can see that Brisland and Degnan have been represented.
However, we can see that Brisland and Degnan have been represented.
Utterly disgusting. How is anyone supposed to believe the horses are treated with love, kindness and respect when the staff are treated like this?
Stable staff have questioned whether fines given to Robyn Brisland and William Degnan were sufficient sanctions after the trainer and senior staff member were found to have engaged in behaviour that intimidated, belittled and contributed to serious injuries to junior members of staff.
George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff (Nars), said he had been contacted by several members of the organisation “who have questioned what they feel is a lenient punishment” after Brisland was fined £8,000 and Degnan £3,000 by the disciplinary panel.
The fines were imposed after a late plea agreement was struck between the BHA and the two men on Monday, with four days having initially been set aside for the hearing.
Rest of the article is behind the RP paywall.
George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff (Nars), said he had been contacted by several members of the organisation “who have questioned what they feel is a lenient punishment” after Brisland was fined £8,000 and Degnan £3,000 by the disciplinary panel.
The fines were imposed after a late plea agreement was struck between the BHA and the two men on Monday, with four days having initially been set aside for the hearing.
Rest of the article is behind the RP paywall.
Sounds like a cosy in house deal by the BHA and the two accused. The Racing Industry seems to be allowed to live in a world of its own. I would like to know more about the National Association of Racing Staff and why we are only just hearing from them in this case.
It's a "closed" shop professional where the principals ie head honchos and right-hand man/woman rule the roost regardless with tacit co-operation/oblivion by the BHA. In Ireland a trainer got a 6 month suspension from horseracing (including missing Cheltenham) for sitting on a "dead" horse; living/ injured and fellow working associates are treated worse than a "dead" horse.
That's the problem with the BHA (Bloody Hopeless Authority) - you're meant to represent your people. No plea bargain can be considered or allowed in this case against Mr Brisland and Mr Degnan. A suspension is the very least expected given the abhorrent treatment his two female staff were subject to.
That's the problem with the BHA (Bloody Hopeless Authority) - you're meant to represent your people. No plea bargain can be considered or allowed in this case against Mr Brisland and Mr Degnan. A suspension is the very least expected given the abhorrent treatment his two female staff were subject to.
harry callaghan
17 Apr 23 20:12
Joined: 10 Nov 07
| Topic/replies: 6,676 | Blogger: harry callaghan's blog
2 bullies in one yard, nothing worse than a bully. The fine is a poultry and I agree with poster above, should have his license revoked
Thanks for the laugh Harry. Was that a chicken or a turkey the fine?
17 Apr 23 20:12
Joined: 10 Nov 07
| Topic/replies: 6,676 | Blogger: harry callaghan's blog
2 bullies in one yard, nothing worse than a bully. The fine is a poultry and I agree with poster above, should have his license revoked
Thanks for the laugh Harry. Was that a chicken or a turkey the fine?
Even a few columnists at the bookies funded paper agreed the last-minute deal accepted by the BHA was too lenient and did not reflect the toxic culture and mistreatment of staff at the yard of these two bullies. The last-minute plea bargain was accepted despite persistent non-cooperation of the trainer and his henchman throughout the investigation until just before the hearing date.
How could this judgement be a deterrent to any would-be future perpetrator of similar bullying culture and mistreatment of staff in the yard only the BHA can fathom. I firmly believe the bloody hopeless authority (BHA) is beyond redemption.
How could this judgement be a deterrent to any would-be future perpetrator of similar bullying culture and mistreatment of staff in the yard only the BHA can fathom. I firmly believe the bloody hopeless authority (BHA) is beyond redemption.
People closer to the inner workings of the industry will know more than me, but it strikes me that this shouldn't be the end of the case. ie, this is the professional body's investigation and assessment as part of holding a training licence. The sanction therefore is not intended to be compensation for the victims. In fact, I assume they won't be seeing any of the fines themselves. Presumably, they need to launch their own civil case. If they are seeking recompense.
Gordon Elliot lookalikey, from the same school of welfare too....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFZAGH-ZUpM
Includes a discussion on the Brisland issue.
Includes a discussion on the Brisland issue.
As Cider has said surely the way forward was for the offended to take legal action ? Failure to do so would lead me to assume it was not that important a case.
What sort of legal action would you suggest for presumably someone of limited means?
I wanted to know what if any involvement was taken by the National Association of Racing Staff bearing in mind the legal representation for the accused. Nobody seems interested in this at all.
See my 19th April post above at 0838.
See my 19th April post above at 0838.
so thats
brisland
zarooni
elliot
quinn
mcnally
yards that fitzy and co wouldnt want the public to be given free reign to move around arriving unannounced to see how well horses and people are treated like 6 star hotels
brisland
zarooni
elliot
quinn
mcnally
yards that fitzy and co wouldnt want the public to be given free reign to move around arriving unannounced to see how well horses and people are treated like 6 star hotels
What sort of legal action would you suggest for presumably someone of limited means?
The same as the rest of us?
The vast majority of cases don't go to tribunal as it will be settled 'out of court'. Especially here, obviously as guilt has been publicly established and admitted. This may of course, already have happened and not in the public domain.
The same as the rest of us?
The vast majority of cases don't go to tribunal as it will be settled 'out of court'. Especially here, obviously as guilt has been publicly established and admitted. This may of course, already have happened and not in the public domain.
Tribunal cases are often handled by employee representatives such as trade unions and associations.
Opinion - Peter Scargill
Robyn Brisland case was truly shocking - and inadequate sanctions mean all of racing will suffer
The BHA's Chris Watts will spearhead a campaign to make stable staff, jockeys and trainers aware of integrity issues
The shocking treatment of stable staff by Robyn Brisland and William Degnan was highlighted last week
Credit: John Grossick Racing
You know something is a serious matter when a minister is losing their job because of it.
The treatment of staff has been big news in the last seven days, not only because of the resignation of Britain’s deputy prime minister Dominic Raab after two complaints of bullying against him were upheld by an independent review, but also due to the shocking behaviour of trainer Robyn Brisland and William Degnan.
Raab, whose constituency includes Sandown racecourse, was found to have “misused and abused” power and acted in an “intimidating” and “aggressive” way when dealing with members of the civil service.
However you read the conclusions of the inquiry into Raab – and interpret what he has had to say since – he does not strike me as a person it would be particularly enjoyable to work for. In fact, you would probably be well within your rights to ditch politics altogether and seek alternative employment.
According to the BHA, some members of staff who worked for Brisland were led to make a similar decision when it came to racing. The trainer’s and Degnan’s behaviour and treatment of them between September and December 2020 was enough for them to turn their backs on the sport for good.
It is hardly surprising. During a truncated disciplinary hearing last week, Brisland was found to have engaged in a “course of conduct that was capable of amounting to bullying”, with staff, or “victims” as they were referred to at one stage by the BHA’s barrister Genevieve Woods, left in tears having been made to feel afraid, belittled and intimidated. Others suffered serious injury.
Brisland accepted he breached rule (J)19, conduct prejudicial to the good reputation of British horseracing, and apologised for his behaviour. He also accepted two breaches of rule (D) 21.2.2, which states a trainer must train with due regard to the safety of their employees.
Degnan, described as Brisland’s “de facto head lad” although officially holding a lesser role, accepted a breach of rule (J) 20 – improper conduct – for his treatment of junior staff members, which included foul-mouth tirades against them, and also said he was sorry.
Robyn Brisland: trainer of Doddie's Impact
Robyn Brisland: was fined £8,000 by the disciplinary panel
The hearing into the charges against Brisland and Degnan was initially due to be heard over four days in London, but a late plea bargain was struck between all sides after the two men accepted their culpability.
The BHA told us these pleas came on the Friday night before the hearing took place on the Monday, with the morning then used to hammer out the details. To its credit, the BHA read out a broad outline of its case against Brisland and Degnan, which had been accepted by them, rightly allowing their behaviour to be reported.
However, if the details of how Brisland and Degnan had treated staff members were shocking to many, so too were the punishments they received: an £8,000 fine for Brisland and £3,000 for Degnan.
George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff, said many of his members had been in touch to query what they felt was a “lenient” punishment for such behaviour – and I think they are absolutely right to question the appropriateness of the fines.
In response to questions about the punishments, the BHA said those who brought the complaints had been consulted throughout and were “satisfied” with the penalties and admissions of guilt.
We have to take such matters on trust as we did not have the opportunity to hear from those who were tormented by Brisland and Degnan. We also have to take on trust the sincerity of the apologies from the two men, who we were told showed “little meaningful remorse or insight” into what they had done until late in the day, having previously sought to justify their behaviour to some extent by criticising the staff.
There is a further need to take on trust the insistence from the BHA that a financial penalty and the reputational damage the two men have sustained will add up to a weightier sanction than any licence withdrawal. I remain far from convinced by this argument given how many others in racing who ought to have suffered major ‘reputational damage’ have been allowed to carry on broadly as before. Racing can often have a short, or selective, memory when it comes to past behaviour.
To me, there remains a distinct disconnect between what these men subjected junior members of stable staff to and what they have had to face up to as a consequence of that.
For example, there appear to be no extra conditions on Brisland’s licence pertaining to enhanced safeguarding as a result of this. If such measures aren’t going to be put in after something like this, then what message are we sending out to young people thinking of a career in racing?
We often hear from trainers about the difficulties in attracting good, reliable – or indeed any – staff, and as a result the industry has put a great deal of work into making racing a sport young people might want to work in. We have to be honest that these are not jobs for the faint-hearted – but, as National Horseracing College chief executive Stephen Padgett told me last week, that should be because of “the early mornings, sometimes harsh weather and the physical effort required rather than a toxic working environment”.
The Brisland-Degnan case has seriously set back those efforts to make racing an attractive industry. And, when there was the chance for a clear message to be sent out that such behaviour will not be tolerated at all, the inadequate sanctions agreed by the BHA and imposed by the disciplinary panel fell short of what was needed. As a result, it is the sport itself, rather than Brisland and Degnan personally, that will suffer most.
Anybody who witnesses or is subjected to behaviour they feel could be in breach of British racing's Code of Conduct can report it, either via email to respect@britishhorseracing.com or via the RaceWISE service on 0800 085 2580.
Read more on this subject:
Trainer and senior staff member fined after allowing 'toxic workplace culture' to take root in yard
Stable staff question if 'lenient' fines in Brisland 'toxic workplace' case send wrong message
Robyn Brisland case was truly shocking - and inadequate sanctions mean all of racing will suffer
The BHA's Chris Watts will spearhead a campaign to make stable staff, jockeys and trainers aware of integrity issues
The shocking treatment of stable staff by Robyn Brisland and William Degnan was highlighted last week
Credit: John Grossick Racing
You know something is a serious matter when a minister is losing their job because of it.
The treatment of staff has been big news in the last seven days, not only because of the resignation of Britain’s deputy prime minister Dominic Raab after two complaints of bullying against him were upheld by an independent review, but also due to the shocking behaviour of trainer Robyn Brisland and William Degnan.
Raab, whose constituency includes Sandown racecourse, was found to have “misused and abused” power and acted in an “intimidating” and “aggressive” way when dealing with members of the civil service.
However you read the conclusions of the inquiry into Raab – and interpret what he has had to say since – he does not strike me as a person it would be particularly enjoyable to work for. In fact, you would probably be well within your rights to ditch politics altogether and seek alternative employment.
According to the BHA, some members of staff who worked for Brisland were led to make a similar decision when it came to racing. The trainer’s and Degnan’s behaviour and treatment of them between September and December 2020 was enough for them to turn their backs on the sport for good.
It is hardly surprising. During a truncated disciplinary hearing last week, Brisland was found to have engaged in a “course of conduct that was capable of amounting to bullying”, with staff, or “victims” as they were referred to at one stage by the BHA’s barrister Genevieve Woods, left in tears having been made to feel afraid, belittled and intimidated. Others suffered serious injury.
Brisland accepted he breached rule (J)19, conduct prejudicial to the good reputation of British horseracing, and apologised for his behaviour. He also accepted two breaches of rule (D) 21.2.2, which states a trainer must train with due regard to the safety of their employees.
Degnan, described as Brisland’s “de facto head lad” although officially holding a lesser role, accepted a breach of rule (J) 20 – improper conduct – for his treatment of junior staff members, which included foul-mouth tirades against them, and also said he was sorry.
Robyn Brisland: trainer of Doddie's Impact
Robyn Brisland: was fined £8,000 by the disciplinary panel
The hearing into the charges against Brisland and Degnan was initially due to be heard over four days in London, but a late plea bargain was struck between all sides after the two men accepted their culpability.
The BHA told us these pleas came on the Friday night before the hearing took place on the Monday, with the morning then used to hammer out the details. To its credit, the BHA read out a broad outline of its case against Brisland and Degnan, which had been accepted by them, rightly allowing their behaviour to be reported.
However, if the details of how Brisland and Degnan had treated staff members were shocking to many, so too were the punishments they received: an £8,000 fine for Brisland and £3,000 for Degnan.
George McGrath, chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff, said many of his members had been in touch to query what they felt was a “lenient” punishment for such behaviour – and I think they are absolutely right to question the appropriateness of the fines.
In response to questions about the punishments, the BHA said those who brought the complaints had been consulted throughout and were “satisfied” with the penalties and admissions of guilt.
We have to take such matters on trust as we did not have the opportunity to hear from those who were tormented by Brisland and Degnan. We also have to take on trust the sincerity of the apologies from the two men, who we were told showed “little meaningful remorse or insight” into what they had done until late in the day, having previously sought to justify their behaviour to some extent by criticising the staff.
There is a further need to take on trust the insistence from the BHA that a financial penalty and the reputational damage the two men have sustained will add up to a weightier sanction than any licence withdrawal. I remain far from convinced by this argument given how many others in racing who ought to have suffered major ‘reputational damage’ have been allowed to carry on broadly as before. Racing can often have a short, or selective, memory when it comes to past behaviour.
To me, there remains a distinct disconnect between what these men subjected junior members of stable staff to and what they have had to face up to as a consequence of that.
For example, there appear to be no extra conditions on Brisland’s licence pertaining to enhanced safeguarding as a result of this. If such measures aren’t going to be put in after something like this, then what message are we sending out to young people thinking of a career in racing?
We often hear from trainers about the difficulties in attracting good, reliable – or indeed any – staff, and as a result the industry has put a great deal of work into making racing a sport young people might want to work in. We have to be honest that these are not jobs for the faint-hearted – but, as National Horseracing College chief executive Stephen Padgett told me last week, that should be because of “the early mornings, sometimes harsh weather and the physical effort required rather than a toxic working environment”.
The Brisland-Degnan case has seriously set back those efforts to make racing an attractive industry. And, when there was the chance for a clear message to be sent out that such behaviour will not be tolerated at all, the inadequate sanctions agreed by the BHA and imposed by the disciplinary panel fell short of what was needed. As a result, it is the sport itself, rather than Brisland and Degnan personally, that will suffer most.
Anybody who witnesses or is subjected to behaviour they feel could be in breach of British racing's Code of Conduct can report it, either via email to respect@britishhorseracing.com or via the RaceWISE service on 0800 085 2580.
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Trainer and senior staff member fined after allowing 'toxic workplace culture' to take root in yard
Stable staff question if 'lenient' fines in Brisland 'toxic workplace' case send wrong message
Thanks, blackbarn. As I thought earlier a very cosy deal struck here and it would seem no representation for the employees unlike Brisland and Degnan who were represented.
Imagine equating the treatment of these two vulnerable people with the cosseted overpaid, underworked mandarins in the civil service ! Only in the high status world.
Crowd-funding. I'm in for £10 to see these two bullies off the profession for good or a long period. They do not have a place in the sport the way they'd behave towards the staff in their yard.
Brocklesby Stakes winner Doddie’s Impact has left trainer Robyn Brisland and been moved to Clive Cox by his owners Cross Channel Racing.
Doddie’s Impact was among 30 horses in training with Brisland at Danebury Stables near Stockbridge owned by Cross Channel Racing. A decision on whether the rest of the horses remain with the trainer, or are also moved, is expected in the near future.
Doddie’s Impact was among 30 horses in training with Brisland at Danebury Stables near Stockbridge owned by Cross Channel Racing. A decision on whether the rest of the horses remain with the trainer, or are also moved, is expected in the near future.
Wow that is a massive blow i dont think he will be getting much sympathy though.
Well done the owners of Doddies Impact. I cant help feeling this " class " attitude is not restricted to just the one stable though.
These despicable pair need to be in the wilderness and a period of rehabilitation courtesy (NOT) of the BHA. They cannot be allowed to carried on with a shrug of the shoulder and a slap on the hand for the bullying culture and fear they manifested at the yard.
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