General Chat

[Redbridge]

I just hope they don't want to sit astride his carcass to humiliate him

[ToniC]

I just hope they don't want to sit astride his carcass to humiliate him

The IHRB & BHA should both nominate their fattest, heaviest employees to sit on Gordon & pose for a photo. Balance restored & we can all move on

[charlie]

What do predict the outcome will be for Gordon today?? I’m not sure if they conclude their investigation today but I hope so. I think a 2 month ban and significant fine but I’ve got a sneaky feeling he may get off lightly with a strongly worded warning and commitment to change and be free to travel over to Cheltenham with his depleted squadron. Predictions??

I think he'll receive a hefty fine, a 6-month ban, and he'll be allowed to send horses to Cheltenham under an assistant trainer, but wont travel himself.

[Eggs]

....difficult to see how his horses can be entered if he’s banned, but a ban seems appropriate/proportionate.

Certainly a hefty fine & there might also be a lengthy racecourse ban for him, which I think would be sensible as there will be a media circus wanting to interview him.

They will have to be careful, as I presume they’ll also be dealing with Rob James in the near future.

[callhimgamblor]

Hearing kicks off in 15....

[Istabraq]

The problem with any sort of ban is the impact it has on the horses under his care and the wider impact on his training operation, the staff etc.
I think now the emotion has died down somewhat the IHRB are under less pressure to send Elliott to the firing squad and it wouldn’t surprise me if a deal hasn’t been struck already that allows him to continue training, pay a substantial fine and perhaps commit to x hours work for racing related/horse welfare charities.
Personally I’d be in support of this, but that would then create a problem for the BHA regarding Elliott and his Cheltenham participation though there would be less risk of any unsavoury scenes without racegoers...

[ryanh97]

The problem with any sort of ban is the impact it has on the horses under his care and the wider impact on his training operation, the staff etc.
I think now the emotion has died down somewhat the IHRB are under less pressure to send Elliott to the firing squad and it wouldn’t surprise me if a deal hasn’t been struck already that allows him to continue training, pay a substantial fine and perhaps commit to x hours work for racing related/horse welfare charities.
Personally I’d be in support of this, but that would then create a problem for the BHA regarding Elliott and his Cheltenham participation though there would be less risk of any unsavoury scenes without racegoers...

I could see this happening and as others have suggested, not letting him attend any courses for a while, even just the end of the season would weather the storm.

[PresentingPercy]

Whatever they issue today, he will have right to appeal. I'm sure they know this, so will hit him with an OTT judgement to keep the public and media happy, safe in the knowledge that true redress will be given when the appeal is heard after things die down completely. He will be banned from attending meetings and will be allowed transfer his license over until that appeal is heard IMO.

[Muswell]

Not sure he will appeal I saw suggestions he would accept the findings so I think they take that into account slap him with a hefty fine and medium ban and everyone moves on

[Stormez]

Whatever they issue today, he will have right to appeal. I'm sure they know this, so will hit him with an OTT judgement to keep the public and media happy, safe in the knowledge that true redress will be given when the appeal is heard after things die down completely. He will be banned from attending meetings and will be allowed transfer his license over until that appeal is heard IMO.

Can’t remember where I read it but saw somewhere that he would except his punishment without appeal, so can’t see the need to go OTT

[Craigy14]

He has admitted it so I think whatever the ruling is, appealing it is just as stupid imo.

Take what he’s hit with and start to rebuild people’s trust and impression of what many know he is like. Not the idiot in his moment of stupidity.

[ComplyOrDie]

He has admitted it so I think whatever the ruling is, appealing it is just as stupid imo.

Take what he’s hit with and start to rebuild people’s trust and impression of what many know he is like. Not the idiot in his moment of stupidity.

Could he not appeal the punishment, as opposed to the ruling. I don't think he'll disagree with being guilty of whatever he is actually guilty of, but the severity of his punishment could be appealed against, if he feels it is beyond reasonable. I do find it unlikely though, myself.

[chunker86]

If they follow the precedent of the Byrnes case it will either be a ban and minimal fine or large fine and no ban. They said that a ban was the equivalent of a fine due to the loss of earnings so would be disproportionate to give him a large fine too, which makes sense.

I really can't see how they can justify punishing Gordon even close to what Byrnes got and i think people will be surprised at what the punishment is, will perceive it to be lenient, which will of course cause outrage for the Twitter Nazis.

[PresentingPercy]

Not sure he will appeal I saw suggestions he would accept the findings so I think they take that into account slap him with a hefty fine and medium ban and everyone moves on

Appeal the sentence, not the ruling I mean. I read somewhere that the max fine he can get is 20K which is nothing, I wonder if they will be able to increase that.

[Magpie]

Really can't see any appeal, he has to take any punishment on the chin. I take onboard what people are saying about Byrnes and other instances, but Elliott has done sizable damage to the perception of racing to the man in the street. IMO he needs a lengthy suspension, a fine, and he can reflect on his stupidity. As others have said, they will be someone lined up to takeover the yard. He can then can come back and get back to some sort of normality.