Champion jumps trainer Dan Skelton has condemned the 'vile and disgusting' abuse directed at racing professionals and urged the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to take far stronger action against online trolls.
Skelton, whose brother Harry is stable jockey, was crowned British champion jumps trainer for the first time in April, becoming the first to earn more than £5 million in a single season with 194 winners. Despite his success, including multiple wins at the Cheltenham and Grand National Festivals, he has been targeted by abusive messages on social media and direct messages to his phone.
Speaking on RacingTV's Luck On Sunday, Skelton said the treatment was 'disgusting' and called out anonymous critics, using the example of a social media user named 'Jockeyhater27'. He said: 'We are professionals at the end of the day. We are doing our best, we've got families. People don't want to read these things. If you are so big and so brave and you can say all these big and brave things, put your name next to it.'
Skelton added that the abuse was not acceptable and that the BHA needed to be '100 times stronger' in addressing the issue. He noted that while the abuse had become 'water off a duck's back' for him personally, the wider impact on others in the sport could be severe.
His comments highlight growing concerns about the treatment of racing professionals online, with calls for greater accountability and enforcement from governing bodies.
