A trainer was praised for her brilliant reply to an online troll who sent a vile email after a race.
Katie Scott hit back when the punter criticised her horse and jockey following a disappointing result. Far From A Ruby was backed into 7-2 favourite for the Watch Racing TV Now Handicap at Catterick on Monday afternoon.
At 5-1 on the opening show with the bookies, the mare won at Ayr on her previous start, on the back of two second places. But this time the five-year-old was not so lucky, as a mishap at the start cost her all chance.
Jockey Aiden Brookes, also on board for the recent victory, could not remove the horse's blindfold in time. The other runners set off from the stalls and by the time Far From A Ruby got going, it was too late – and she finished second last.
Less than ten minutes after the 7f race had finished, taken by the joint second favourite Key Look, Scott received the horrible message.
The punter, without correcting a couple of typing mistakes, wrote: "Just now disgudtibg ride on your well backed horse and shsmeful start by the cheat jockey and ginished last. Punters ripped of again."
Sharing the message on Twitter, Scott replied: "Second last Tyrone. Maybe you should go to specsavers? Maybe some english lessons as well, improve your spelling so at least you can make your abusive emails a little easier to understand. Have a nice day."
After the race, Brookes reported to the on-course stewards that it took him two attempts to remove the blindfold from Far From A Ruby, which caused her to be slow away.
Scott's post to the irate punter was met with approval from racing fans and one of the Ursa Major Racing syndicate members who Far From A Ruby races for.
"Speaking as an owner of this horse, the transformation and work put in to this horse is incredible," they wrote.. "I have 110% faith in my trainer and horse. Horses don't know their price and the favourite doesn't always win. Tyrone should Google what the word gamble means."
Another person wrote: "On the one hand amusing. On the other hand a very unnecessary abusive email. I hope you don’t get many of these. Well dealt with though…."
A third simply posted: "1-0 Katie."
Scott, who took out her trainers licence in 2015, has had 13 winners on the Flat this year, her best ever tally. Unfortunately she is one of many trainers to receive such emails after a disappointing result.
Jockeys often get them too – and Tom Marquand came back with a similarly great response after he was defeated on a well-fancied runner in September last year.
