Troll off
Social media has been here for a while and it is not going away. I love it, mostly.
There are bad jokes and old music clips as well as memories of sporting legends which are all of interest to me. It also gives people a chance to voice their opinions.
In the words of Beatrice Hall “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” That is all well and good. However if you do cross a line expect to be called out on it.
Eve Johnson Houghton was subject to vicious personal attack on Twitter this week. I won’t repeat the exact comment but let’s just say it was rude and had some misogyny attached. The tweeter, who I won’t mention by name, also expressed the wish that a horse break a leg and be destroyed.
This is no fan of our sport.
He has probably had a fiver bet and lost and cannot cope with it.
The horse in question, Miss Matterhorn, a two year old filly, was running in only her second race. She is in her development stage and horses can improve at different rates.
The idiot’s comments on Twitter bear a resemblance to other posts under different names sent to other trainers. Ms Johnson Houghton didn’t bite but did send a brilliantly worded response whose wit would have been lost on the online troll.
Mindless bile
Trainers and jockeys have a hard enough job as it is without having to put up with mindless bile being spat at them.
I am pretty sure that anyone reading this is a proper fan of racing and all within it. It is ok to criticise. I am sure we all have at some stage. But what is not right is name calling and hopes for injury for our equine friends.
We all like a bet but if you see it as a definite way to make money then you are in the wrong game. They are not machines. Sport is not scripted. Anyone watching the last few Champions League games could tell you that. If every favourite won then bookmakers would have shut up shop years ago.
If you can’t afford to lose, don’t bet. Simple. Rant over.
