Racehorse trainer Gordon Elliott turned 43 yesterday but it is hard to imagine any celebrations going on.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board confirmed that it will hold a hearing on the issues arising from the publication of a damaging photograph on Saturday showing Elliott sitting astride a dead horse, the seven-year-old Morgan who had died on the Gallops.
The photograph was taken in 2019 and there is no clear understanding yet of why it has come to light now but the damage to the sport in general, and to Elliot in particular is profound.
On a day where the reaction was coming thick and fast, Cheveley Park Stud removed their eight horses, including potential Cheltenham stars Envoi Allen and Ballyadam, sending them to trainers Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins.
This was followed by stable sponsor eComm announcing that the partnership had come to an end. Company owner Noel Moran has since confirmed his own horses are staying with Elliott for now but obviously, the heat on the brand was too much.
Betfair had moved to end their connection to the yard on Sunday.
Michael O’Leary and his Gigginstown Stud operation have stood by Elliott but none of their horse will be permitted to run in the UK for now and, pending Friday’s hearing, at Cheltenham and Aintree in the coming weeks, unless they are moved to a different trainer.
The highest profile horse among them is Tiger Roll and he was withdrawn for a crack at three Grand Nationals in a row yesterday, albeit for reasons of racing rather than reputation.
It is possible that mitigating circumstances will prevent a suspension but that is highly unlikely and the British Horseracing Authorities ban is based on bringing the sport into disrepute which is undeniable.
The wider damage to the sport has been put in the spotlight by calls questioning the stare funding of the sport but Horse racing Ireland has said it is always available to meet with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and the sport and the industry is bigger than the actions of any one or more individuals.
The second video of Rob James astride a different dead horse was damaging but the actions are so out of the norm of what most would even think was in any way acceptable that you’d have to hope there is no more.
Liveline and Twitter have blown like an inferno on Elliott’s reputation and standing. That will pass but the IHRB has a quasi-judicial stance to take now on Friday.
They will decide the technical details of the punishment Elliott will receive. In the court of public opinion, however, regardless of those who consider it over the top as part of a ‘cancel culture, he has been found guilty already.
It is hard to see him regain the respect and the status that he has built up over the last 15 years.
Sport for Business Partners
