Trainer Expresses Concern after Second Fine for Staff Not Wearing Safety Equipment, Calling it “Massively Widespread

The images posted to David Kirby’s Facebook page revealed that his staff had been riding horses without wearing body protectors, contrary to the required rule. Kirby had been previously fined £500 for the same offense in September 2020 based on evidence from his stable’s Twitter feed. Kirby stated that he did not allow riders to use the gallop without body protectors, but acknowledged that there were a few repeat offenders, mainly licensed jockeys. He also mentioned the difficulty in hiring and retaining staff, and expressed frustration at the lack of responsibility shown by the staff and jockeys.

When asked about the frequency of staff neglecting to wear body protectors, Kirby initially estimated “a few times through the month,” but later claimed that protectors were worn 99.9% of the time. He contended that the issue was not exclusive to his stable but was widespread across many yards. In response, the panel referred to a document published by the National Trainers Federation in 2019, addressing how to ensure staff compliance. They noted that it did not appear that Kirby had followed this advice.

The panel ultimately delivered their verdict, noting that evidence of non-compliance on a public-facing website required serious consideration. They reduced the British Horseracing Authority’s proposed fine of £750 by £100, acknowledging the efforts Kirby had made to address the issue.