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What’s worse, sitting on a dead horse or punching a live one? People kicking up the fuss are those outside of racing and Twitter police. I’m not condoning it at all, but he didn’t kill the horse. Jockey’s who have punched a horse for the whole world to see have still been able to continue their careers. Hopefully a suitable punishment is given, but not one that ruins a man’s livelihood.
The sport needs all the good PR it can get, it's never going to be easy selling something to the masses where during the programme you have presenters having to report fatalities on televised Saturdays in the NH season, which is very common as we all sadly know. It regularly makes me question why i'm a fan of it and I absolutely love the sport. To counter such incidents we present a sport that goes above and beyond to care for the animals, treats them like Kings and Queens and does everything it can to give them happy lives. How does it look to the public when one of the main trainers is pictured sat on a dead horse seemingly joking around?
Whether it's real or not is something that i'm sure we'll learn soon enough, but it's certainly not a trivial matter. Absolutely nobody involved with the sport or a fan of it should ever take its future for granted, it needs all the help it can get.
Gordon Elliott has stated he wants to "unreservedly apologise for this moment of stupidity" after an investigation was launched into a purported image of the leading trainer which was posted on social media on Saturday.
The image was posted and widely shared on Twitter, with the regulatory board of the sport in Ireland later tweeting: “The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board are aware of an image circulating on social media and the matter is under investigation.”
The image appears to show Elliott sitting on a dead horse on the gallops – although many people have commented on social media that it looks fake.
Elliott responded from his official Twitter account.
He posted a statement which read: “I became aware of this old picture circulating on social media late last evening. I deeply regret and unreservedly apologise for this photo which was taken over four years ago.
The animal suffered a cardiac aneurysm on the gallops when I made this momentary but deeply regretted lapse of judgement.
As everyone who has ever visited my yard will for (sic), horse welfare comes first, second and third in my life and my profression (sic). I live for and love all the animals in my care and this devotion is mirrored daily by each and everyone of my Cullentra team.
“I have been in contact with the IHRB who are investigating this regrettable event and I will assist them in any way I can. I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for this moment of stupidity on my part.”
Elliott is a three-time Grand National winner, having sent out Silver Birch to claim the Aintree prize before Tiger Roll became the first back-to-back winner of the race since Red Rum when lifting the marathon event in 2018 and 2019.
The County Meath handler also counts 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Don Cossack among the best horses he has trained, with 32 Cheltenham Festival wins to his name so far.
Elliott houses a number of favourites for this year’s Festival, including Envoi Allen and Zanahiyr, while Tiger Roll himself is also due to run in the Glenfarclas Chase over Cheltenham’s cross-country fences.
The British Horseracing Authority has welcomed the IHRB’s investigation, and is hoping for a speedy resolution.
A spokesperson said: “We hope the Irish authorities will quickly confirm how this shocking picture originated.
“Respect for horses is a fundamental value of our sport, contrary to the impression in this picture. The IHRB have assured us that the investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible and that they will keep us informed as more information becomes available.”
Video flying about now of a bar that’s been set up at the yard whilst in lockdown. Someone’s obviously holding a grudge and is looking to fcuk Gordy over
Most of what was in the Sporting Life tweet seems to be taken from a Whatsapp conversation that could be faked by anybody, it's possible they jumped the gun. As far as I can tell, nothing official has been said from GE.
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