Top jockey Neil Callan’s use of social media was found to contain language that was deemed ‘inflammatory, disrespectful, and discriminatory’ by a disciplinary panel hearing. Callan, 46, a prominent rider and board member of the Professional Jockeys Association, received an eight-month suspension and a £1,500 fine for violating racing integrity rules related to conduct detrimental to the sport.
The accusations against Callan, who has achieved over 1,600 wins and had a successful stint in Hong Kong, revolved around posts, reposts, and comments on his social media account between August 2023 and January 2024. One instance involved a reposted comment concerning BHA steward Anthony McGlone, questioning the steward’s competence for the role.
In another post, Callan appeared to cast doubt on the rationale behind a Sunday fixture at Wolverhampton’s Arena Racing track, implying impropriety with the phrase ‘Greased palms’ accompanied by suggestive emojis. He also shared a comment referring to a Racing Post journalist as ‘part of the woke brigade’ and made remarks about the media coverage of jockey Bryony Frost.
The BHA report highlighted that Callan’s behavior could potentially fuel further online abuse within the sport, emphasizing the need to address the existing issue of online harassment towards professionals in horse racing. The report also expressed concern over Callan’s derogatory and sexist comments towards a licensed jockey who had previously experienced bullying.
Following discussions with the Professional Jockeys Association, Callan promptly removed the offending posts within 24 hours. He acknowledged his rule violations, expressed regret for his actions, and confirmed changes in his social media conduct since the incident.