Disgraced trainer Gordon Elliott can’t have runners at races following dead horse picture
Disgraced Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott BANNED from entering horses into British races by the BHA while he is under investigation – as they are ‘appalled’ after shocking photo emerged of him sitting on a dead horse
- Gordon Elliott is under fire after a picture of him sitting on dead horse circulated
- The image appears to show him sitting on a dead horse making a ‘peace’ gesture
- He has been banned from having runners in Britain while authorities investigate
- The BHA’s decision throws a question mark over his entries at the Cheltenham
- They include his dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll and unbeaten Envoi Allen
- The BHA have described their decision as ‘proportionate in these circumstances’
Gordon Elliott was banned on Monday from having runners in Britain while Irish authorities investigate the shocking picture of the trainer sitting on a dead horse while talking on his mobile phone.
The dramatic move by the British Horseracing Authority throws a huge question mark over Elliott’s entries at the Cheltenham Festival, which starts two weeks today.
They include his dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll and unbeaten Envoi Allen, hot favourite for the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Gordon Elliott has apologised after a photo appeared to show him sitting on a dead horse
Elliott is being investigated by the Irish authorities after the image was posted on social media
The BHA described their decision as ‘proportionate in these circumstances’.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board have so far given no indication when a disciplinary hearing might be held as they continue their probe into the damaging image that was circulated widely on social media last weekend.
The BHA said in a statement last night: ‘The action taken by the BHA recognises that Mr Elliott is licensed in Ireland, whose regulatory body is carrying out its own investigation. However, Mr Elliott has entered horses to race in Britain, from which point the British Rules of Racing apply to him.
The 42-year-old has trained 147 winners this season but is now unable to enter British races
‘The decision to refuse to allow horses trained by Mr Elliott to run in Britain is therefore an interim decision which the BHA regards as proportionate in these circumstances.’
The move heaps pressure on the IHRB to swiftly investigate the circumstances surrounding the picture and take action. Earlier on Monday, the BHA had said they were ‘appalled by the image’, adding: ‘We expect all those in our sport to demonstrate respect for horses wherever they have them 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.’
Elliott had seven winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival to take his career tally to 32.
The trainer’s initial explanation that he had inadvertently sat down on the dead horse to take the phone call merely fanned the flames of the furore, despite his apology.
Last night he showed more contrition in a damage-limitation interview, telling the Racing Post the incident was a ‘moment of madness that I am going to have to spend the rest of my life paying for and that my staff are suffering for’.
He added: ‘I will be punished, I fully understand that. But it absolutely breaks my heart to read and hear people say that I have no respect for my horses. That couldn’t be further from the truth. My whole life has revolved around horses since I was a child. Horses are all I have. I came from nothing and built a dream.
‘When your world starts crumbling in front of you, it’s a scary place to be. I just hope people can understand how truly sorry I am and find some way to forgive me.’
Betting firm Betfair were the first to act on Monday, dispensing with Elliott’s services as an ambassador.
The National Trainers Federation were also strong in their condemnation, saying their members were outraged and disgusted by Elliott’s actions.
Envoi Allen’s owners, the British-based Cheveley Park Stud, had indicated they would wait until the outcome of the IHRB investigation was complete before saying whether they will continue to have horses in his stable.
Elliott said horse welfare is ‘paramount’ to him and denied claims that the photo was ‘callous’
The BHA’s move might force them to act quicker and potentially move their horses to another stable if they want them to take part at Cheltenham.
Speaking on Sunday, Elliott said the photo dated back to ‘some time ago’ and denied suggestions his actions had been ‘callous’, stressing that he was caught off-guard after receiving a phone call.
‘I would like to address the speculation and rumours that have been rife since an old photo of me began circulating on social media yesterday afternoon,’ he wrote in a statement.
‘Firstly, I apologise profoundly for any offence that this photo has caused and can categorically state that the welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount and has been central to the success that we have enjoyed here at Cullentra.
‘The photo in question was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse had died of an apparent heart attack on the gallops. I appreciate that an initial viewing of this photo suggests it is a callous and staged photo but nothing could be further from the truth.
Timing could not be worse given the proximity of Cheltenham Festival, starting on March 16
‘At what was a sad time, which it is when any horse under my care passes away, my initial reaction was to get the body removed from where it was positioned.
‘I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking, I sat down to take it. Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished.’
Elliott hit out at ‘falsehoods and misinformation’ around the picture on social media but said he put horse welfare first and would continue to co-operate with the investigation.
‘Such background information may seem trivial at this time and will not allay the concerns of many people both within and outside the world of horse racing,’ he added.
‘However, I feel it is important to provide people with some context surrounding this photo. To the racing community, to anyone who has worked with and loves horses and to anyone offended by this image I cannot apologise enough.
‘Horse welfare and the care and attention to detail involved is absolutely at the core of everything we do here and both myself and all of my team pride ourselves on those standards.
‘Again I apologise for any offence caused and ask people to consider this statement as opposed to the various falsehoods and misinformation being circulated on social media.’
Elliott’s stock has soared thanks to Tiger Roll’s successive victories in the Grand National
Elliott did receive backing from the Gigginstown Stud of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who is estimated to own 40 per cent of the horses at the Cullentra Stables, despite the trainer confirming last night that the horse in the photo was the Gigginstown-owned Morgan, who died in 2019.
A statement issued on behalf of O’Leary and his racing manager brother Eddie described the image as unacceptable, but they added: ‘We accept that this was a grievous but momentary lapse of judgment by Gordon, and not in keeping with our 15-year experience of his concern for and attention to the welfare of our horses.
‘We all make mistakes, and what is important is that we learn from them and ensure we do not repeat them.
‘We accept Gordon’s sincere, profound and unreserved apology and we will continue to support him and his team as they work to recover from this deeply regrettable incident.’
It was Elliott’s 43rd birthday on Monday and on the racecourse it was business as usual as he had four winners at the meeting at Punchestown.
There will have been no celebration.
