’DEAD HORSE’ SHAME ELLIOTT HIT WITH BAN
GORDON ELLIOTT received a six-month ban, with a further six months suspended, and a €15,000 fine from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for the dead horse photo that shocked racing.
GORDON ELLIOTT had “no complaints” after a photograph of the Co Meath trainer astride a dead horse led to a six-month ban — with a further six months suspended — from racing.
The 43-year-old, who was also fined €15,000 by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, has been in the eye of a storm since the picture of him straddling the carcass of the Michael O’Leary owned four-time winner Morgan was published on social media last Saturday.
At the conclusion of an eight-and-ahalf hour hearing at a secret location, the IHRB found the Cheltenham Gold Cup and three-time Grand National winner guilty of bringing racing into disrepute, describing the photo as showing “the most appalling bad taste” and “a complete absence of respect for the horse”.
After receiving his punishment, Elliott, who has no plans to appeal, said last night: “I am in this situation by my own action and I am not going to dodge away from this.
“I was disrespectful to a dead horse, an animal that had been a loyal servant to me and was loved by my staff.
“I will carry the burden of my transgressions for the rest of my career. I will never again disrespect a horse living or dead and I will not tolerate it in others,” added Elliott, whose suspension begins next Tuesday. “I am paying a very heavy price for my error but I have no complaints. I will serve my time and then build back better.”
The controversy cost Elliott the support of the Cheveley Park Stud, whose unbeaten superstar Envoi Allen is now in the care of Henry de Bromhead.
But horses owned by O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud are to remain at the Cullentra stable, which will have runners at the Cheltenham Festival, which begins a week on Tuesday, with a new name at the helm.
Reacting to the IHRB ruling, a statement from the British Horseracing Authority read: “If horses are transferred directly to other licensed trainers prior to 9 March — when the suspension is due to commence — they will be able to run.”
Meanwhile, Jack Kennedy (above) has spoken of his relief at news he will keep the rides on Envoi Allen, Quilixios and Ballyadam.
”When you’re kind of comfortable that barring an injury you’re going to be riding them, and then something like this happens, you’re all over the place. I’m delighted I’m keeping the rides on them,” he said.
■ PAGE FULLER and Lorcan Williams were each handed four-day bans by stewards after an altercation following the handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys at Newbury yesterday.