'It was the most horrendous experience' - former clerk on Duncan ordeal

Katie Stephens started working as a clerk of the course at Hereford in 2006 before moving to Bath four years later. She left this year and, in the wake of Roderick Duncan's call for a change in culture in racing, outlines some of the problems she faced in her time in the role.

It's a constant challenge.

There were times I'd let things from racedays get to me or eat me up. I used to think a lot of it was because I was a female, but three or four years ago - driving up and down the M5 to my home in the West Country - I made myself forget it because otherwise it's in your life constantly.

You'd have a rotten day and think there was nothing you could have done better, but you can't let it eat you and eat you.

There are, however, other times that aren't as easy, and we had an incident when a horse got loose. The trainer involved went apoplectic at me and I never thought he could go that mental; he tore a strip off me in front everyone. I thought it was inappropriate and it was the most horrendous experience I had clerking. I should have never been spoken to like that; it shocked me.

Likewise, when I first started at Bath. It was one of those evenings where it was firm ground and we'd had a shower of rain. I was new, my second or third fixture so knew I was going to be tested, and got called to the weighing room. I remember a jockey - of the older generation - poking me asking what I was going to do about a bend where there might be a problem.

This was in front of everyone in the weighing room and I was horrified it happened. I went home and got the rulebook out myself to check I was in my rights to report it to the stewards, and have something done about it. Luckily, it never happened again.

As a clerk it feels like you're one of the team until there's an issue and everyone wants your blood. It's like a tide when things are going against you and when you hear those comments they'll often be flippant and made in the heat of the moment, but it's the manner they're delivered in.

Like me, turning to a jockey and saying they've given it a shocker. I used to think they wouldn't take that criticism from me, so why are you doing that to me?

When problems happen it can just be bad luck and no-one's fault; I could relate to what Roderick said and can only think it's four-fold for him given the pressure that goes with running a big track.

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