Horse trainer Gordon Elliott was suspended for six months by horse racing authorities in Britain and Ireland after being photographed riding a dead horse.
WARNING: BELOW IN THIS ARTICLE IS AN IMAGE OF GORDON ELLIOTT SHOWING THE DEAD HORSE
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) suspended its training license for 12 months, six of which were suspended on Friday afternoon and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) followed.
The IHRB said he “acted in a manner detrimental to integrity, proper conduct and a good reputation”.
Judge Raymond Groarke, of the IHRB reference committee, said: “We believe that the suspension of Mr. Elliott’s training license is deserved.”
The committee, he said, thinks the photograph shows Elliott’s “most terrible bad taste” as it demonstrates a “total lack of respect” for the horse at a time when he still remained under his command.
“We believe that respect is an integral and essential part of the duty of those responsible for living or dead animals.”
The BHA said in its statement that the “suspension will be returned.”
The BHA said it endorsed the IHRB’s comments on lack of taste and lack of respect for the horse.
Judge Groarke said Elliott was “inattentive” to the fact that a horse under his responsibility had just died and was treating the animal as an object of amusement.
He acknowledged that the coach expressed what the panel believes to be genuine remorse and accepted that he will hardly forget this episode in his life.
“It is undoubtedly and regrettably the case that the reputation and integrity of horse racing has consequently been discredited and undermined, and serious damage has been done to a sport that is appreciated and loved by so many,” he said.
Judge Groarke said that “to reflect the seriousness of the offense and the damage to the Irish racing industry”, Elliott will be suspended for 12 months, with the last six months suspended.
Coach Gordon Elliott was photographed sitting on a dead horse
By participating in the photograph, which has existed since 2019, the judge said he demonstrated “an extraordinary lack of judgment”.
But he admitted that the photo’s publication was part of a “planned attack” on Elliott, whose circumstances are unknown.
Elliott, 43, one of the most well-known personalities in motorsport, said in a statement that he was treated fairly and thought he was “paying a very high price for my mistake, but I have no complaints”.
He said: “It breaks my heart to see the pain I have caused to my colleagues, family, friends and supporters. I have a long way to go, but I will do my time and then rebuild better.”
After the photo was posted, Mr. Elliott apologized “deeply” for “any offense this photo has caused”, insisting that “the welfare of each horse in my care is paramount”.
The photo, he said, “was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse died of an apparent galloping heart attack.”
Coach Gordon Elliott said he has been treated fairly. Photo: Tim Goode / PA Archive / PA Images
He said he was waiting for the animal’s body to be taken away when he received a phone call and sat on the horse without thinking.
The image shows him in a pose, holding two fingers while sitting on the nameless purebred.
On Monday, the three-time Grand National winner coach was suspended from entering horses in races in Britain while the Irish authorities have completed their investigation.
Elliott, who trained 32 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, where he was the best coach twice, will not compete in this year’s event, starting on March 16, or next month’s Grand National.
His business has suffered financially since the photo emerged, with the main owners of Cheveley Park Stud moving their high profile horses away from their yard and Betfair bookmakers ending their relationship with him.
In addition to the suspension, which will take effect from Tuesday, Elliott was also ordered to pay the costs of € 15,000 (£ 12,900).