Yahoo Finance Outrage over champion trainer's 'disgusting' photo with dead horse
Warning: The following story contains images and details that some viewers might find disturbing
A champion horse trainer has been heavily criticised after a photo of him posing while sitting atop a dead horse was circulated online.
Three-time Grand National winning trainer Gordon Elliott faced intense scrutiny after the undated image, which showed him giving a peace sign to the camera, was shared on social media.
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A day after it first surfaced, Elliott confirmed it was a legitimate image.
In a statement, the Irish trainer conceded that while the image did look bad, that there was context behind why he was sitting on the horse and seemingly gesturing for the camera.
"I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking, I sat down to take it," Elliot's statement read.
— Gordon Elliott (@gelliott_racing) February 28, 2021
"Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished.
"Such background information may seem trivial at this time and will not allay the concerns of many people both within and outside the world of horse racing."
"I appreciate that an initial viewing of this photo suggests it is a callous and staged photo, but nothing could be further from the truth.
"At what was a sad time, which it is when any horse under my care passes away, my initial reaction was to get the body removed from where it was positioned."
WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES FOLLOW
Gordon Elliott vows to cooperate with investigation
Elliott said the horse had died after what was believed to be a heart attack while on gallops.
The publication of the photo has resulted in the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board launching an investigation into the 42-year-old, who apologised for the incident.
"To the racing community, to anyone who has worked with and loves horses and to anyone offended by this image I cannot apologise enough," he said.
"Horse welfare and the care and attention to detail involved is absolutely at the core of everything we do here and both myself and all of my team pride ourselves on those standards."
The IHRB said their investigation would move swiftly.
"The investigation is under way, and it will be dealt with as quickly as possible," a spokesman said.
Similarly, the British Horseracing Authority said they hoped the investigation would get to the bottom of the image.
"We hope the Irish authorities will quickly confirm how this shocking picture originated," they said.
"Respect for horses is a fundamental value of our sport, contrary to the impression in this picture.
"The IHRB have assured us that the investigation will be carried out as quickly as possible and that they will keep us informed as more information becomes available."
The racing community can all agree that this was a vile, disgusting image and there are zero excuses for Gordon Elliott. Zero.
Looking at this from a legal perspective, which it could very well escalate into, what punishment could be handed down to Elliott, and on what grounds?— Robin Richards (@RobinRi15710622) March 1, 2021
BHA : Ban disgraced trainer Gordon Elliott from Horseracing - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/J2V8auhYug via @UKChange
Please sign. This is disgusting behaviour towards this beautiful animal. What a vile man.— lin (@lindaleitchman) March 1, 2021
People asking me my view on Gordon Elliott. The act was utterly disgusting. The justification or context as he terms it is simply insulting our intelligence. I hope his owners vote with their feet. I feel sick to the pit of my stomach even glimpsing that image.
— Phil Malcolm (@PhiMalcolm) March 1, 2021
As a racing fan for 30 years I’m sick to my stomach by the actions of Gordon Elliott & his lame excuse .What disgusting behaviour .I feel sorry for all working in racing who he’s now tarnished & hope the BHA throw him out .There is no place in the sport for depravity like that 😡
— alison Vickers (@alisonVickers13) March 1, 2021
So the Gordon Elliott photo was real after all. I hope every single owner takes their horses away from the vile cretin. His excuses were disgusting, and the sport will suffer hugely from this. #Gordonelliott
— ⚡️Luke Stephens©®™ (@blooboylukie) March 1, 2021
Gordon Elliott deserves to lose his license and never train another racehorse again. To have blatant disregard and zero empathy for the animal that employs him is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/l35Jah9oo0
— Tara Neigel (@NeigelTara) March 1, 2021
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