General Chat

[ToniC]

Gigginstown House Stud says it will continue to support Gordon Elliott despite the "deeply regrettable" photo of the trainer

As predicted...

[Muswell]

Remember this outrage?

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/cheltenham-festival-2014-jockey-ruby-walsh-angers-welfare-groups-describing-horses-replaceable-9187314.html%3famp

[Brooksie]

Does anyone have any idea which horse it is? Doesn't really matter, just interesting to know that's all.

[Muswell]

Giggy statement https://twitter.com/honestfrank/stat...745584640?s=21

[ComplyOrDie]

Remember this outrage?

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/cheltenham-festival-2014-jockey-ruby-walsh-angers-welfare-groups-describing-horses-replaceable-9187314.html%3famp

I remember an image of Kauto Star sweating and not looking like he was enjoying himself under Laura Collett during an eventing competition, barely anyone batted an eyelid.

It's like we suddenly have compassion for a dead animal but screw all the live ones that have to perform under duress, because, well, they are alive!

[ToniC]

Giggy statement https://twitter.com/honestfrank/stat...745584640?s=21

He needed that, this morning. Word is Robcour going to stick by him as well.

[FinalFurlong91]

Judging by most of the comments on Twitter you'd be forgiven for thinking Gordon's pulled out a Glock 18 and shot the horse at point blank range. It's appallingly bad taste from a dickhead who deserves every ounce of public judgement, but that's all it is, IMO.

Still maintain that drugging a horse that's alive is worse, much much worse in fact, than taking a sick photo like that. It's weird the way this has caused so much more outrage than that. It's a bit like that advert on the telly of those poor mistreated Donkey's - chokes me up way more than any advert about charities for people. It shouldn't, but it does.

twitter is a cesspool

[luisgarciaisgod]

Does anyone have any idea which horse it is? Doesn't really matter, just interesting to know that's all.

I've heard it was Morgan, Giggenstown horse.

https://www.irishracing.com/horse?name=Morgan&prt=528730

[GreenBlack]

Sky Sports News just dedicated the first 10 minutes at the top of the hour to Elliott story. Never seen horse racing get so much air time on that channel which isn't a good look for the non horse racing viewer

[Liammet]

This is a really inappropriate response and not in keeping with the spirit of this forum

Agreed RC thanks

no more posting on here for me

good luck all

[ryanh97]

Agreed RC thanks

no more posting on here for me

good luck all

Very sad to see you go mate.

[Geegees]

Any ban & appeal (look at Burns, still trained a DRF winner under appeal) means he’ll technically still be able to have runners at the festival. Think the main question here is all about owners brand reputation. Let’s use Cheveley Park as the best example. They have 4 high profile entries including the most talked about horse in training with him. They’re in the NH game for the love, not money. They run one of the biggest breeding operations in the world. If I was working in PR at that company, none of those would be running due to brand reputation - because even if they are moved, story by association / link is still negative PR. That’s how big corporates work. I personally do not think we’ll see Envoi Allen, Sir G, Ballyadam or Quilixios at the festival. Really hope I’m wrong - fear branding & business will come over fun & passion though

They might be in it for the love but equally the owners are not going to walk away from some decent prize money.

I am confident we will be seeing the runners above through one way or another. If they are that concerned about PR then I guess you would expect a trainer change prior to the festival

[Carnage at Taunton]

Anybody close to this sport knows how precarious its future has been for a number of years. I have read many posts on here where people are trying to be rational, applying logic, comparing this to other misdemeanours.

Trying to stack rank the severity of the offence against ones committed by others, highlighting the investigation and appeals process and so on and so on. None of this matters. Racing has been too insular for far too long, thinking it’s everybody else that has the problem not us and all these animal welfare people and all these anti gambling people, all these everyday joes that think it’s cruel or barbaric or bent or whatever are just ignorant and need educating. This level of arrogance and naivety is mind blowing.

My daughter just called me and said wtf dad. This is what just happened.

One of racing’s leading most talented, revered and respected professionals has given all its enemies all the ammunition it needs to fuck us over. This is about emotion, this is about losing hearts and minds in a heartbeat that so many have tried so hard to win over.

The crime here is not sitting on a dead horse (though what civilised human being possibly thinks that is ok) but is giving all the haters, the cynics, the nay sayers the loaded gun with which to shoot us. Corporate suicide of the greatest order. If folks think the punishment should be a literal examination of the facts without factoring in the massive political and environmental factors then I fear they are missing the broader picture.

the world already thinks the sport is corrupt, the world thinks it is cruel and the world thinks it is getting innocent people into financial difficulty. Gordon Elliott knows this and his crime is that he has stuck two fingers up to the world and shouted we do what we fucking want. Now of course he hasn’t done this with intent but nevertheless it is what he has done and that for me is the crime that has been committed here and I reckon the world cannot believe the gift it has just been given.

Absolutely spot on, and completely echoes my thoughts.
Just not sure what the best course of action can be taken to nullify what could well happen next.

or at least try to nullify.

[Eggs]

....ATR breaking news that BHA are considering its own options regarding Elliott.

Not sure how they can impose something immediate that still allows his runners to come over in a fortnight.

What a mess.

[Attaglance]

....ATR breaking news that BHA are considering its own options regarding Elliott.

Not sure how they can impose something immediate that still allows his runners to come over in a fortnight.

What a mess.

Complete mess this is turning into now....