No sexism in harness racing, say female drivers

Forbury Park Trotting track in South Dunedin. Photo / NZPA

Prominent female trainers and drivers have denied speculation the New Zealand harness racing industry is a sexist workplace.

The treatment of women in harness racing has come under scrutiny after Canterbury junior driver Bronson Munro was charged with misconduct for allegedly verbally abusing two female drivers during and after a race at Forbury Park last month.

Southland trainer-driver Kirstin Barclay, Waikato trainer-driver Nicky Chilcott and Canterbury junior driver Kimberly Butt said New Zealand harness racing provides a fair and safe working environment. Butt, in her fifth season of driving, said she had not been disadvantaged in the sport because she was a woman.

"I don't think there is any disadvantage being a female and I honestly never experienced anything to say that it is."

Barclay said she does not think sexism is prevalent in harness racing and that the southern industry is a welcome and safe place to work.

"I look forward to going to the races and catching up with everyone, especially in Southland because everyone is like family, everyone gets along and there's always someone there for a laugh and a yarn and they just want to help you out."

Chilcott said harness racing provides a fair and equitable workplace. However, that was not the case when she started in 1993.

"Back then, it was really hard, I really struggled to get accepted and used to cop crap left, right and centre. But, now I don't have any trouble and think it is pretty even."

Chilcott has been a pioneer for females in harness racing. She is one of the country's most successful female trainers and the only woman to drive 500 winners in New Zealand.

Abusive remarks were thrown at Chilcott on the track in the 1990s, but she was determined to push on.

"It was hard, the guys on the track, you would cop heaps of crap like 'get back to the kitchen where you belong'. I'd be lying [if I said] I didn't have moments where I'd ball my eyes out thinking 'is this all worth it?'"

Barclay and Butt said verbal altercations were part of being a modern driver.

"It is part and parcel of any sport - in the heat of the moment, things are said," Barclay said. "In my career, there have probably been five occasions when something has been said and I have thought 'stuff you' and I would give it back. But I would give it back as good as the boys would.

"Most of the time, if I have been dished up on the track, it would be if I had done something wrong and it would be no different to what has been dished up to anyone else."

Butt said it was natural for drivers racing at high speeds vying for positions in a race to air their frustrations.

"Everyone has done that with someone at some point," she said.

Barclay and Butt said there are rare cases where it can be an advantage to be a female driver. That includes the advantage a horse can get from a lightweight woman driver on a rain-affected grass track. In some cases, horses are more inclined to run favourably for female drivers than males.