A Bad Day for Horse Racing

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott is being investigated by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IRHB) after images emerged of the trainer posing for the camera while sat on a dead horse. Many have compared the images to hunters being pictured with their prizes. Gordon Elliott who as trained many elite horses including back-to-back grand slam winner Tiger Roll who has since been pulled from the Aintree festival.

Animal rights activists

The animal rights activists came out in force very quickly to get the trainer banned from handling horses and the IRHB are set to sit on Friday to discuss the case. The horse had allegedly suffered heart failure while doing gallops. Elliott came out and confirmed the photo was real and that this happened many years ago. Elliott went on to say (it was a) “Moment of madness that I am going to have to spend the rest of my life paying for”. Since the incident, many owners have moved their horses elsewhere including Cheltenham festival favourite Envoi Allen.

It Gets Worse for Gordon

In the latest fallout, Elliott’s yard sponsor has since terminated their sponsorship. The eCOMM company made a statement. ‘’eCOMM Merchant Solutions has terminated its sponsorship contract with Gordon Elliott due to recent events’’. They made no further comment on the matter.
In a further turn of events, amateur jockey Tom James was videoed climbing on the back of a dead horse. James later went on to say that he was ‘’heartbroken’’ at the ‘’damage’’ that he has caused and that his actions were ‘’wholly inappropriate and disrespectful’’.

In further developments on Tuesday, Betfair announced the termination of its partnership with the Irish based trainer. The British horseracing authorities have also said that he is banned from horseracing in the country until the Irish authorities conclude their investigation. Elliott is hopeful that he is still allowed to train horses in the country and is hoping to have his horses at Aintree and Cheltenham in the next few months.

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