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I think there are temporary arrangements available in the event of the death or serious injury of a trainer that somebody could take over quickly before they had completed the training course, inspections and documentation etc
– so eg Sandra Hughes, Ruth Jefferson, Kayley Woollacott- but I don’t think the licensing committee would allow this sort of exemption where the trainer brought it on themselves. Suzi Best had to jump through a lot of hoops and wait a long time to get her licence (different jurisdiction but I would think similar approach likely).The fact that it’s a top trainer with some stars that have been heavily backed antepost for an imminent big festival and nobody wants to upset their routine shouldn’t matter- if some two bit jumps trainer had done this in the summer, their horses couldn’t just go out and run at Kilbeggan next week under the name of somebody else in the yard.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Happy for the horses, owners and staff that the horses will now run.
Cheveley Park would have pulled their horses out anyway being such a high profile breeding organisation but individual owners now have the strain lifted and BHA decision was the right thing to do for the sport.
With so much investment in these horses they don’t deserve to be punished too.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I suppose the BHA could allow his horses to run but ban him from the racecourse like the IHRB did with Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien and others who broke covid rules.
I don’t think the licensing committee would allow this sort of exemption where the trainer brought it on themselves.
I imagine it wouldn’t be permitted until the inquiry is complete anyway, given there is at least one other person from the stable involved in the incident.
In a couple of weeks time, will there be letters to the IHRB/BHA, or even the beginning of a campaign, that says “sitting on a dead horse to make a phone call attracts X thousand Euros/Pounds fine and Y months suspension of a licence to work in the racing industry, while hitting a live tired horse with a whip to make it run faster attracts plaudits and congratulations for narrowly winning a race?” Hypocracy, a rock and a hard place, the nature of the sport? Insensitivity Type A trumps Insensitivity Type B? Some people will spot this as a big opportunity.
Percy’s owner defending Elliot and sticking with him. Maybe by Friday this will have calmed down a bit and he might get away with a fine. If he could hang on to his license without facing a ban or suspension then I’d say he would tale that and that would be the best he could hope for.
I don’t have the balls, you’re right TTC; not for this one.
Difficult one for me to come to any conclusion. Being an atheist and believing once you’re dead you’re dead. What people do to the living should surely matter more? And yet I am so disgusted; in truth more so than when a trainer has struck a living horse! Why do I feel this way? Think it may be because he appears in the photo to be so uncaring… And therefore difficult to believe the man is as respectful to the living as he should be. Can understand (almost) all points of view expressed on this thread.Hope Gordon Elliott gets the help he needs to come through this – must be at least depressed. I know farmers are one of (if not the) worst professions for suicide and training racehorses is similar to farming.
That said: Although imo what Elliott did does not deserve a lifetime ban (must be a long suspension)… Best if giving his licence in before the case is heard and then waiting five years before asking to rejoin the training ranks. However, find myself agreeing with Betlarge in that it would be best for Racing’s public image if he never trained horses again. But is it right to think more about Racing’s future rather than what’s justice for the man?
Value Is EverythingI think Mr Reynolds, Presenting Percy’s owner, makes his case well. Elliott has done wrong and brought racing into serious disrepute. He deserves a severe reprimand but not to be destroyed.
There is a difference between justice and revenge.
There is no way Elliott will get away without a ban.
Or at least: If that is what the Irish authorities give him then the BHA will make more of it and Ireland will appear (rightly or wrongly) the problem.Value Is EverythingI wouldn’t say an outright lifetime ban is “revenge” CAS, it’s more thinking of Racing’s future more than justice for the man.
Value Is EverythingWho exactly is lookin for revenge? Anything ive seen on social media lately has been from people expressing disappointment and calling for punishment as a fine or ban.(odd vile person but its rare). They havent called for GE to be stoned to death. Alot of people confusing criticism with being cruel. Now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon about humanity and mental health etc.
And he should get a ban and a fine. But I have read comments here and elsewhere saying he should be banned for life. I think that is disproportionate and more akin to revenge than justice.
Very rare tho CAS. Majority i have seen have been level headed in their expectations of punishment and shown sympathy for the stable staff etc. The mass outpouring of support in the name of mental health lately is totally uncalled for. People even comparing it to the Caroline Flack situation…really?
I have sympathy with the stable staff but putting it into context many businesses go bust every day and people end up losing their jobs through no fault of their own and they are equally deserving of sympathy. It’s harsh but that’s the reality of life at the end of the day.
If stable staff do end up losing their jobs then the blame, fairly and squarely, is 100% down the actions of one single individual and their crass, oafish behaviour.
As for the punishment he receives, to be honest I don’t really give a toss – I would like to think any decent owner would never send a horse to him again. As for those who will continue to support him – people can form their own judgments about them – suffice to say it comes as no surprise O’Leary is seemingly sticking by him.
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