Paddy Brennan in plea to social media critics to recognise dangers jockeys face

Paddy Brennan has urged social media critics to be more empathetic towards jockeys, urging trolls to consider the dangers riders live with on a daily basis and the anxiety their families face.

Brennan on Wednesday posted an image of an ambulance taking Jamie Brace to Gloucester hospital after the young amateur's mount Minellaforleisure was brought down in a nasty incident in the final race at Cheltenham.

The accompanying tweet read: "Next time anyone feels the need to abuse a jockey think of this. Jamie Brace heading off to hospital in an ambulance. He is just a kid and I’ve sat next to his parents while they wait for news. Think about it."

Speaking to the Racing Post on Thursday morning, Brennan elaborated on why he posted the message. He said: "I was looking at them [Jamie Brace's parents] and trying to understand what was going through their minds, they weren't allowed access at that time as no-one knew how serious it was.

"That's when it hit me and I registered how tough this game is, especially when you're starting out."

Gold Cup-winning rider Brennan, 38, is one of the most experienced riders in the weighing room but has encouraged those starting out as jockeys to be wary of social media, saying it can "hold them back".

Brennan said: "Social media gives everyone the right to comment and sometimes that can be dangerous. As a parent, I worry that my children will grow up and see the abuse that I get. Racing is a serious game and it's a big betting industry, but for us it's a passion, something we love, so we don't get into it to be abused.

"My advice would be for any young jockey starting out to get away from that and concentrate on the job, don't get sucked into social media because it will hold your career back.

"It's up to that person to stay away from it. You have to be mentally strong to ignore it, but if you think you've given one a bad ride, you don't need some clown to tell you."

Technology has changed markedly since Brennan started out, with the advent of social media making it easier for trolls to directly target abuse at jockeys.

Brennan added: "I get plenty of abuse but I'm old enough and strong enough to take it. It's the next generation of jockeys that I worry about. When I started out with Jim Bolger there were no mobile phones and when I came to England there was no social media. It is worrying times and needs to be controlled."

Brace, who steered a winner and two seconds at Edgcote point-to-point on Sunday, was riding for boss Alex Hales at Cheltenham, who on Thursday said: "Jamie has had some head scans and they're all clear and thankfully they let him out last night.

"He's a bit battered and bruised but he's all right. It's nothing too serious, possibly a fractured cheekbone.

"The only thing that will keep him out is a bit of concussion. It was a horrible fall but thankfully he's okay and seems in good spirits. He misses a few point-to-point rides over Easter but that's the life of a jockey."

Hales reported Minellaforleisure had suffered a serious neck injury and was being attended to at Three Counties Equine Hospital.

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