KEY POINTS:
She's 45, one of the country's top jockeys _ and was, until they were involved in an ugly brawl, a mentor to young apprentice jockey Cory Parish.
But today Trudy Thornton begins a two-month ban from racing after she and Parish, 18, were involved in a fracas
in the male jockeys' locker room at Te Rapa seven weeks ago. New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has also ordered her to attend an anger management course.
The case has prompted a vigorous debate on the internet racing forum Race Cafe, with people weighing in on both sides of what is being interpreted by some as a battle of the sexes.
The highly experienced Thornton, described by one source as "fiery", and the teenage apprentice, had a close relationship before the bust-up.
They worked at the same stables in Cambridge and Thornton is credited with mentoring the young man.
Parish said: "Nothing ever happened [romantically]. We had a pretty close friendship. She has helped me out heaps."
The trouble flared during a race at Te Rapa seven weeks ago. Thornton denied a misconduct charge in front of racing's Judicial Control Authority last week. Chief racecourse inspector John McKenzie said it appeared to have been sparked by an incident in the race in which Parish's mount had leaned into Thornton's, infuriating the older rider.
"There were a series of incidents involving assault and abusive language. Uncontrollable frustration took over. Arms may have been flying around, but no punches landed. It was unfortunate and had to be dealt with."
Parish denies his horse touched Thornton's during the race. He said Thornton had been "pissed off" and shouting as they rode side by side. He said he tried to talk to her afterwards but she was furious.
"She does have a fiery temper.
"She had both hands around my chest, nearly around my neck. She didn't actually punch me, but I thought she might have. I was more shocked than anything."
Thornton tells a different story. She said Parish's horse had "bumped" hers. But it was his reaction afterwards which angered her. "He came up and started swearing. He started verbally abusing me. I was shocked to say the least. The kid pushed me and I pushed back. I should have handled it better, but it was not as blown up as they made it out."
McKenzie said Thornton had been a "great mentor" to the young rider. "He was under her wing in many ways. She was almost like a personal riding mistress."
He described Thornton as a "blue blood of racing", whose daughter is also an apprentice jockey.
The incident has been widely discussed on Race Cafe: "I think it is fair to say that if it was one of the male jockeys clouting one of the girls they would be looking at years not months," wrote one person.
Thornton, contemplating a two-month lay-off, considers her punishment "very harsh".
"The anger management thing is a first," she said. "I don't want to be their guinea pig. I've been victimised. The price I have paid is astounding. The worst part about it is I have a mortgage and two children. I have let them down."
And the hatchet has not yet been buried between the pair. "I haven't talked to her since," said Parish, adding he hoped they could patch things up "later on".
But Thornton is not in a forgiving mood. "I went out of my way to help the kid. "I put my neck on the line for him and I regret that now. The gratitude he has shown is zilch. I'm disappointed in him."
