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The one question that no one’s answered is who’s the horse. Any ideas?
Twitter=@PGHenn
So don't run, just like the others always do
I suppose the BHA would like the enquiry to be finished before Cheltenham and certainly before the Grand National, TWM.
The Irish government had plenty to say about Brexit, why shouldn’t the BHA have something to say about one of the leading trainers of British race winners?
…I didn’t know that the Irish authorities have banned Sheikh Mo, one of their leading owners, breeders and sponsors.
…May be the BHA should ban one of the last decade’s leading trainers from winning any more British prize money?
Value Is EverythingI think it was identified as a horse called Morgan earlier in this Thread fivelongdays, who sadly died of a heart attack.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Morgan died 2019. If the photograph is four years old, then it must be some horse from his 2016/2017 string. It could also be an unraced or even an unnamed one.
My question is: what else is there to come from his stable?
Let’s hope for no more surprises.
I liked Elliott. But that photo is going to be some stain to wash out. The V-sign is the real dagger.
BUY THE SUN
A huge PR disaster for racing. I agree with the earlier points that it makes it very difficult to use the “horses live in luxury hotels” argument.
We might know 99.9% of people in racing treat their horses well. We also know horses do sometimes have heart attacks or sustain injuries where they have to be euthanized. But with respect, Ham’s suggestion this only affects Elliott and not racing misses the point by a country mile.
The media and much of the public are not going to be interested in the context Elliott stresses in his statement (which in my view only makes things worse). They are just going to see Tiger Roll’s trainer sitting on a dead horse and seemingly making light of the situation.
Don’t believe me? Take yourself to the Daily Mail’s site if you can bear it and read some of the comments below the story. And before anyone groans it is only the Mail, do you think it would be received better on the Guardian and BBC sites? If anything, I think the reception would be worse.
I agree with Steeplechasing. I think this really could finish Elliott. Even O’Leary can only take so much bad publicity. And Cheveley Park made no comment last night when asked. Now maybe they were waiting to hear if the photo was genuine or not and to hear Elliott’s side of the story but if I was him I would be worried.
The idea that the Irish authorities should just shrug and do nothing because no offence has been committed and there is no welfare issue is ridiculous. The image clearly brings racing into disrepute.
I wonder if Elliott knew something was coming. Maybe I am reading too much into it but he has not looked happy in some recent interviews, especially his strange use of the word “barbaric” when one of his horses failed to get a win after an enquiry.
It is a horrible mess. I will still try to defend racing against critics who say it is cruel and the horses are mistreated – but Elliott has made that much more difficult.
“Can someone answer this…what business is this of the BHA?”
Absolutely none of the BHA’s business at all….providing, that is, Elliott never has a runner in Britain ever again.
The damage this man has done to racing goes well beyond the confines of Ireland, it will travel with him everywhere his runners go and taint racing in every jurisdiction he has a runner.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"I’m absolutely stunned by that horrific photograph. I’m not feeling too rational about it so I am not going to post on this thread any more. I hope an iconic Stud like Cheveley Park move their horses forthwith.
BUY THE SUN
Ask a member of the British public to name any racehorse ever and the first thing out of of many of their mouths will be Red Rum. Even to those who know nothing about racing, three Nationals is known as a hell of an achievement.
Tiger Roll has a chance of repeating this in just under six weeks. It would be big news beyond the back pages but would media outlets be quite so keen to celebrate it now that his trainer has done this? Frankly I would struggle, although I do realise that it’s a team effort, not just Elliott (perhaps the impact on others is part of the issue).
This was a thoroughly disgusting act followed up by a pathetic excuse which serves only to make things worse. He’s straddling the body of the horse, if you instinctively sat down, I’m not sure it would be like that. I can’t imagine it would be that easy. The picture I saw also had a caption which really doesn’t help matters, although he may well have no involvement in that part of it.
A gift to the anti racing movement, and clearly deliberate timing.
A quick edit: he says he was standing over the horse, which I had missed. Still not buying it.
“A gift to the anti racing movement, and clearly deliberate timing.”
Also a gift to the pro racing movement.
Yes because so many issues that racing has had a chance to deal with but swept them under the carpet, will now be in sharp focus and rightly so.
Just a few issues on a non exhaustive list..
Drugs and prohibited substances which ONLY the french can detect, in horses and humans.
Doping of horse to enhance performance
And doping of horse to detract from performance
Endless stewards reports which come to nothing. Routine testing after racing where there is no transparency, cannot all come back negative (can they?)
Whip abuse,
Horse welfare.
Jockey welfare.
Stable staff issues
Uk and Ireland.Even before the photo was confirmed as genuine last night, the story had been mentioned on the BBC late evening news, so just imagine them media storm there will be now.
Very bad for racing in general.What a load of wet lettuces. From the oldest (Steeplechasing) to the youngest (Cornrack15), we’ve had everything on here and on Twitter. I’ve seen all of the following:
Picture not real, lifetime ban, all owners will leave the yard, Envoi Allen to Mullins, Elliott is “finished”, 6 month ban, no runners at Cheltenham…
I don’t think any of those will happen and tend to agree with Ham and Gingertipster – perspective has been lost. It’s embarrassing and uncomfortable but worse things happen in this sport all the time. A worse PR disaster is a bad Cheltenham for fatalities or a death in the Grand National. Elliott hasn’t really broken any rules and there’s nothing to suggest this horse was mistreated in life. On what grounds can a heavy punishment be given out? What specific rule are you going to call him out on?
I predict all will carry on as normal and honestly think it should. I’m not bigtime enough to send a horse to Elliott but honestly wouldn’t have any qualms about letting him care for one of mine.
Davy Russell punched a horse and is now the media darling again. Tony McCoy launched his helmet in a tantrum next to a badly injured Valiramix in the Champion Hurdle and spooked him – who remembers that despicable act nowadays? Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins have been involved in drugs scandals – how often do those come up? Karl Burke was banned for passing inside information – who remembered that when Laurens was the feelgood story? Dettori and Fallon endangered others by riding in races while under the influence of cocaine.
There are hundreds of flawed men in this sport, all hardened beyond what we’d call ordinary and decent by the gritty realities of what they do. We accept it because we’re flawed ourselves and enjoy watching and betting on fragile animals being raced around a track for money. I’ve come to terms with my own selfishness in that respect and think others need to own it in their own hearts as well.
“What specific rule are you going to call him out on?”
I have already quoted the relevant rule.
“Karl Burke was banned for passing inside information – who remembered that when Laurens was the feelgood story?”
I did and I am sure plenty of other people did as well. But there is a lot of difference between passing inside information and the perception you are making light of a dead horse. The public will not much care about the former.
I understand the logic of your argument but we live in a world where emotion rules. Whatever way you dress it up, the media are going to show a Grand National winning trainer sitting on a dead horse and smiling. The animal rights crowd will be all over it and their friends in the anti-racing media will be more than happy to give them a platform.
I just hope that the usual suspects who enjoy being outraged quickly find something else to be outraged about instead – but it is terrible publicity racing could do without.
There are two consequences here; firstly the IHRB take action and sanction Gordon with some sort of suspension or fine – this is unlikely – its possible but unlikely
The second consequence is owners pull their horses or even stop investing in big purchases. Gigginstown, The Morans, Cheevely Park & JP (if one of four of them pull the plug then its a disaster for him). The Morans spend the most money at the moment. he’s spending big money for them at the sales
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