‘This is disgusting’: Horse racing analyst exposes parody Twitter account

Melbourne-based horse racing analyst Bella Anderson has revealed she was left “disgusted” by an “extremely upsetting” find.

Horse racing analyst Bella Anderson has called out a “disgusting” parody Twitter account that’s been harassing her for more than two months.

Anderson, a Melbourne-based mounting yard analyst for Racing.com, exposed the account on Tuesday morning, which has on multiple occasions resorted to body shaming the TV presenter.

Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

On other occasions the cowardly account has viciously mocked Anderson over her horse racing tips.

“I can’t quite describe how I felt when I found this account and even more so that industry participants are following it,” she posted.

“This is disgusting, sickening and extremely upsetting. It is bullying and harassment. Please report this account, no-one deserves to be treated like this.”

Anderson received a flood of support from members of the racing community after retweeting the account.

Australian jockey Blake Shinn commented: “Thinking of you Bella. Take care, you are great.”

Twitter took decisive action by shutting down the parody account within three hours of Anderson’s Twitter post.

God people are cooked

— Caleb Bond (@TheCalebBond) October 10, 2022

Keep doing what you do Bella, always enjoy listening to your insights and appreciate you always waving or stopping for a chat at the races.

Online bullying and trolling is horrific, no one should be subjected to it at all.

— Ben Carbonaro (@pasta_carbonaro) October 10, 2022

Newly-appointed Racing Victoria CEO Andrew Jones slammed the troll account on Tuesday, calling for the person behind it to either put a name to their criticism or stop punting altogether.

1. Please stop bullying our staff. It is cruel, unlawful and reflects poorly on you 2. If you want to express opinions, please show some grace and courage and put your name and face to them
3. If you don’t like someone’s tips please do your own research or give punting a miss

— Andrew Jones (@RacingVicCEO) October 10, 2022

The incident bears some similarities to one experienced back in 2020 by Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne, who was forced to address speculation he created a burner Twitter account to defend himself against social media criticism.

A faceless account named “Jimmy Jones” was either congratulating Browne for his reporting or defending him from detractors in nearly every post.

The account quickly gained notoriety, with many accusing Browne of setting up and operating the account himself, leading to the reporter being asked directly on radio to address the claims.

“Absolutely not true,” he told Triple M.

“I only knew about this account on Sunday night, so all the detractors on social media that bag me they’re now criticising an account that I know nothing about suggesting that it’s me and I don’t know anything about the account.”

Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann and Tom Browne (R) at the Triple M Hot Breakfast 2019 Grand Final Breakfast. Picture: Supplied/Triple M

Asked whether someone close to him might’ve created the account, Browne said there was no indication that was the case.

“Absolutely no one I know to the best of my knowledge unless my Mum’s got some secret fascination for Twitter,” he said.

“But no, it’s not.

“I’ve got no idea who this is, I think they’re stitching me up. Perhaps a colleague or someone out there creating lots of buzz among all the journalists, ‘Geez, someone’s sticking up for Tom Browne’. I’ve got no idea what’s going on, I’ll just keep trying to do my job and break some stories.”