Elliott’s shame won’t stop top horses running
BHA want best Festival fields possible
GORDON ELLIOTT’S remaining stable stars may yet get to run at the Cheltenham Festival.
The disgraced County Meath trainer is currently suspended from making entries in the UK by the BHA until an investigation is concluded by their Irish counterparts into the sickening image of him sitting on a dead horse.
Irish racing chiefs will hold their hearing tomorrow on the Elliott case.
Major owners Cheveley Park Stud have removed top Cheltenham contenders such as Envoi Allen and Sir Gerhard out of the shamed handler’s yard to ensure their involvement at the showpiece event.
However, a raft of other horses still housed at Elliott’s yard are entered for the meeting which starts on a week on Tuesday.
James Given, the BHA’s director of equine health and welfare, has said there is no desire to punish other owners or horses in the stable.
Given said: “Our intention isn’t to stop horses running, we want to see the best horses run.
“I think we will judge each situation as we are faced with it but it is our intention to try to get the best horses at Cheltenham.
“At the moment it’s only a temporary sanction depending on what the Irish authorities come up with.
“It’s our intention to get the best horses racing at the festivals, so we’ll take each position as it comes along.”
While Cheveley Park have removed their stock, others have stood behind the scandal-hit trainer.
Owner Philip Reynolds, who has eight horses including former twotime Festival winner Presenting Percy with Elliott, has asked for people “not to destroy him.” Reynolds said: “None of us has a monopoly on disappointment, shock, horror, anger and sadness. Having spent my life owning horses and in the pet industry, in this case I own as much of those feelings as anyone else. “Authorities will deal with Gordon but his trial has already played out. We have stripped him bare and flogged him in public. The scars of this week are his ultimate punishment.
“For all these reasons, and accepting this is a onetime error of judgment, I will stay with Gordon. I hope we can find it in our hearts not to destroy him.
“My professional relationship with Gordon dates back over five years and having been to his yard a number of times, his facilities are world-class. As a trainer, his record speaks for itself.
“I know no matter what I say there will be folks who believe no punishment will be strong enough. I accept their view. Mine is from a sense of forgiveness.”