Racing turns on Elliott as trainer faces Festival ban
BRITISH trainers have voiced their ‘outrage and disgust’ at the photograph of Gordon Elliott sitting on a dead horse which has shocked the sport.
Grand National and Gold Cup-winning Irish trainer Elliott will be ‘cooperating fully’ with an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board investigation into the incident.
After County Meath-based Elliott confirmed the image – posted on Twitter on Saturday – is genuine, counterparts in Britain made their disquiet clear to their representative body.
A statement read: ‘From yesterday evening through today, the National Trainers Federation has been contacted by its members expressing outrage and disgust at the image of Gordon Elliott circulating on social media.
‘Although Mr Elliott is based in Ireland, the NTF – which represents trainers based in Great Britain – wishes the public to be in no doubt that its members distance themselves from the behaviour on display in that image and want to emphasise their deeply felt values of care, respect and love for the racehorse.’
The British Horseracing Authority has said Elliott will not be permitted to have runners in Britain until the conclusion of the IHRB investigation, raising the prospect of the 42-year-old missing this month’s Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National in April.
Elliott, who trained Tiger Roll to National glory in 2018 and 2019 and is preparing another strong team for Cheltenham, admitted on Sunday the photo, which has been widely shared
on social media, was genuine and said: ‘I apologise profoundly.’
He attempted to mitigate the damage to his reputation by offering some ‘context’ and received support from Gigginstown House Stud owner Michael O’Leary, who said his horses – including Tiger Roll – would be going nowhere, accepting an apology for a ‘grievous but momentary lapse of judgement’.
Cheveley Park Stud, who count hot Cheltenham favourite Envoi Allen among their Elliott string, said they were ‘truly horrified and dismayed by the photograph’ but will wait for the IHRB investigation to conclude before making any decisions on the future.
Despite the controversy, it was business as usual for Elliott on the racecourse at least, as he sent out Black Tears to win the Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown – Papal Lodge, Coach Carter and Mighty Potter were also on the mark for the Cullentra team.