The Gordon Elliott Photo Thread

Fuming at that fat pr!ck Elliot bringing racing down like that. ' I sat on a dead horse to take a call'. Gobshite.

 

Really damaging for horse racing when welfare is at the top of most people's agenda. Gives impression he doesn't care about the wellbeing of his horses.

Not sure there is any excuse for it...I mean just don't take the call and take it later. Horse has just died on your gallops.

Trying to justify events leading up to it is not going to wash. What to think of the person who took the photo too? I guess whoever it was will be sacked if not already..

With Cheltenham just over 2 weeks away this is bad timing (not that there ever is a good time). I wonder what will happen to him as not sure what power the authorities have.

I guess he will lose some owners from this and he could soon be operating at a reduced level. Does anyone know what sanctions are open to the authorities?

 

I don't know the exact penalties available to the IHRB but they can certainly look at suspending his licence pending investigation or issuing a fine. Of more concern is the speed at which IHRB tend to move (ie glacial), if they don't jump on this really quickly then they risk a massive storm of bad news stories.

Whoever took the photo has either released it deliberately (disgruntled former employee?) or very carelessly shared it. Not that it is an excuse, they should have reported it at the time.

Whatever happens now, racing is in for a very rough few days/weeks in the press.

 

IHRB have said they are working on a quick solution and pressure is being applied by the BHA who have released statements. I assume Ireland has disrepute laws which will be available for them to use to suspend him?

BBC R5Live are reporting the story on their news headlines and Betfair have pulled out of their relationship with him. Can only see this spiralling.

 

Quite rightly no one will want to be tainted by association, I imagine owners are going to start pulling horses out pretty quickly - Michael O'Leary could go either way but certainly someone like Cheveley Park will not want to be associated with this.

 

The offense will be bringing racing into disrepute. Thats there in the rule book but I am not sure what the possible sanctions might be.
Agree with Princess that Cheveley Park will not want to be associated with this.
It takes stupidity to a whole new level to allow someone to take the image of you!

 

At least he wasn't flogging it...


...okay, I'll get my coat.

 

Betfair have already ditched him as a colomist. Floodgates could open now.

 

I hope he gets a life ban

I believe he has about 200 horses in his yard, so I'm wondering what would happen to them. Some owners will obviously take their horses away. Where would they go? Presumably the yard would not be closed and it would be under new management; with 200 horses there must be several very capable people who could take over. I would guess therefore that the best solution is to take away his licence and owners will have to decide whether or not to leave their horses there

 

Seriously Ron? A life ban.
I am sickened by the image that I have seen and it contradicts everything I have ever said to racings objectors. The punishment however has to fit the crime. His real punishment should come from his owners regardless of the decision made by IRHB. If his owners are truly "horse people" they will respond accordingly.

 

I agree with Ron on this, I want him out of the sport permanently, and more so for his awful explanation and lack of contrition. Why did he not come out and just say sorry and that he got it wrong?

People get warned off for much less damage to the sport

 

Re Elliot I would have no faith in the Irish authorities imposing a relevant ban given how easily they treated Davy Russell a few terms back.

His future as a trainer will depend on 2 things going forward. (i) whether he gets the support of current owners and if prospective owners continue to flock to him, and (ii) how the media (both mainstream and racing) react from here on in. Will they lose interest in the story within a few days or will they harass big time both Elliott and his current owners re this man’s suitability to be a racehorse trainer???

 

Excellent response from Mick here. Everyone I've spoken to feels the same - we are all sad, and angry.

https://fb.watch/3YAa2nLfMR/

 

Apart from Gigginstown who are standing by him. CPark are waiting for IHRB decision.

 

Not surprised by O'Leary if that is the case, he has absolutely no emotion in any decision he takes.

As I've said to other people today, I am sure that ultimately this will turn out to be a lapse in judgment and a moment of idiocy, but it's a bloody massive one that has consequences for every one of us in the industry. His statement was ridiculous, he can't have spoken to anyone before releasing that bit of waffle. He should simply have said "The photograph is not a fake. I apologise to my owners, my staff and the wider racing community unreservedly for my actions which are indefensible. I will take whatever action IHRB deem appropriate without complaint."

 

See this is what annoys me, you can say the picture is an error but to compound it with that statement is absolutely bonkers. It’s almost in the Donald Trump league.

You can see the images if Tiger somehow wins the GN, front page news.

 

Visibly emotional in that clip...this is such a shame for horse racing and it comes across as distasteful.

I just can't believe anyone could sit on a dead horse like it's a park bench. The authorities have to act but I m really not sure what the ultimate sanction is. Is it possible that he will be banned from Cheltenham?

Would be pretty mental if they ruled that none of his horses could come over for the festival..although I can't really see that as that would be hurting the owners..

 

If they suspend his licence then he won't be able to have runners in his name at Cheltenham, if the owners want the horses to run they will have to transfer to another yard I'm afraid. IHRB will have to act quickly, they can't afford to wait until after Cheltenham before making a decision - it would be the final nail in their coffin after the Charles Byrnes debacle.

 

BHA statement just hit my inbox. Based on the wording I wouldn't be surprised if they act before IHRB or take stronger action if they deem IHRB's to be too weak:

"Following confirmation from Gordon Elliott that an image circulating of him on social media over the weekend is authentic, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today issued the following statement:

The BHA is appalled by the image that appeared this weekend. We expect all those in our sport to demonstrate respect for horses, on the racecourse, in the training yard, on the gallops, and wherever they have horses in their care. People who work in our industry believe their values – of caring for and respecting our horses – have been deeply undermined by this behaviour. On their behalf, and on behalf of all horse-lovers, we say loudly that British horseracing finds this totally unacceptable.

The BHA is considering its own regulatory options, recognising that the Irish authorities license Mr Elliott and are carrying out their own investigation."

 

Will be very interesting to see what happens..I wonder what Mr O'Leary will think of it..not shy of course in courting controversy..

If his runners can't run then so be it..it will be a shame for racing fans but some things come above all that such as decency, respect and ethics..