General Chat

[Big Bucks]

I've just found out it's his birthday today! What a birthday present losing Envoi and Co! Happy birthday Gordon!

[The King Pimm]

It will be interesting to see what Barry Geraghty says on today's episode of Off The Fence as he’s been riding out at Elliot since retiring

[Hiddy Harmeen]

Not heard anything.

He's got so many trainers at his disposal I'd say it's a given (but I have heard nothing!)

Cheers for the reply

JP is the biggest name in the sport, it's biggest backer and Patron, what he does here is important

[Exar Essay]

Permanent I believe - CPS have nailed their colours firmly to the mast early on this one

Richard Thompson said on At The Races that no decision had been made re long term future of the horses and that this was a short-medium term arrangement.

[ToniC]

Has anyone heard any notable trainers or jockeys speaking out in support of Elliot? I haven’t seen or heard any words of support? I suppose another indictment of home much is he liked

Mick channon, Richard O’Brien have, Davy Russel retweeted loads of supporting stuff as have a few other Irish figures from the industry. People are rightly shocked by the image but the people bawling their eyes out & calling for him to never train again seem to be from one side of the Irish Sea, predominantly

[Atlantic Viking]

the people bawling their eyes out & calling for him to never train again seem to be from one side of the Irish Sea, predominantly

By the same token, so do those closing ranks and trying to defer responsibility, acting as though the blame lie with the media for how all this has panned out. Both sides need to take a step back.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Did not Russell punch a horse in public ? So no shock there

[HoldenTheReins]

Did not Russell punch a horse in public ? So no shock there

Yep, got a 4 day ban for it also. He also recently refused to answer questions from someone at the Racing Post due to their article about it. Arguably worse than sitting on a deceased horse.

[ToniC]

By the same token, so do those closing ranks and trying to defer responsibility, acting as though the blame lie with the media for how all this has panned out. Both sides need to take a step back.

I don’t think we’ve seen that from anybody, to be fair. The IHRB were swift to make it known they were dealing with the matter, and were serious. I think what the BHA have done, trying to hold a gun to owners heads around their potential Cheltenham runners has pissed a lot of people off.

[Carnage at Taunton]

Yep, got a 4 day ban for it also. He also recently refused to answer questions from someone at the Racing Post due to their article about it. Arguably worse than sitting on a deceased horse.

So he’s got support from a jockey that was openly cruel to a horse, okey doke. Thanks for confirming.

[Anay Turge]

I think the BHA have been very smart. They’ve got Gordon where it hurts most, and have essentially given him the worst punishment possible. Knowing they probably couldn’t ban him permanently from racing, do the next best thing and have the owners do the damage, removing current and potential superstars from his stables. It’s a real mess, but they knew what they were doing.

[ToniC]

I think the BHA have been very smart. They’ve got Gordon where it hurts most, and have essentially given him the worst punishment possible. Knowing they probably couldn’t ban him permanently from racing, do the next best thing and have the owners do the damage, removing current and potential superstars from his stables. It’s a real mess, but they knew what they were doing.

But can you not see how that would piss Irish folk off, given it’s not even their area of jurisdiction, and the Irish authorities enquiry is still ongoing? It’s an absolutely gross overstep, IMO, and has put a lot of people’s backs up.

[Eggs]

I don’t think we’ve seen that from anybody, to be fair. The IHRB were swift to make it known they were dealing with the matter, and were serious. I think what the BHA have done, trying to hold a gun to owners heads around their potential Cheltenham runners has pissed a lot of people off.

....it’s clearly a very emotive subject and opinions are bound to vary. An interviewee on ATR earlier was full of praise for BHA handling of the situation as have some on here from both sides of the Irish Sea.

Ultimately, they await the decision of the Irish authority and the final sanction has to be proportionate. The assumption is the likes of CPS have moved their horses to ensure runners at the Festival, but given the furore around the incident they might well have moved them anyway.

I think we have to be careful not to treat this as UK v Ireland.

[Saxon Warrior]

But can you not see how that would piss Irish folk off, given it’s not even their area of jurisdiction, and the Irish authorities enquiry is still ongoing? It’s an absolutely gross overstep, IMO, and has put a lot of people’s backs up.

Elliott had over 100 entries at Cheltenham, and 10-20 in the Grand National so it was totally within the BHA's remit to decide whether to let that slide or not.

They are waiting on the IHRB decision now.

[Atlantic Viking]

I don’t think we’ve seen that from anybody, to be fair. The IHRB were swift to make it known they were dealing with the matter, and were serious. I think what the BHA have done, trying to hold a gun to owners heads around their potential Cheltenham runners has pissed a lot of people off.

There's tons of examples on twitter, to be fair. I think the BHA have done what they had to do. I've seen quite a few subtly and not so subtly trying to make this an Anglo v Irish thing, but the biggest and most high profile 4 days in our sport is coming up and falls under BHA jurisdiction. They are the ones who would have to deal with the bad PR and fall out were runners to turn up and win under the Elliott banner. They'd be the ones left having to answer all the awkward questions about it, the ones looking weak and as though they weren't taking the matter seriously.
The BHA released a statement midday yesterday to say they were considering their options. I can't speak for them but i'd put good money on them waiting to see what came from the IHRB. Nothing did, then we had the BHA decision at 7pm. It took the IHRB til midday today to announce they were convening a board for Friday, all we had before that was a tweet to say they were aware and looking into the matter. This isn't on the BHA, for once I fully support their position.