Gordon Elliott photograph

Silly Gilly

Over the weekend an image was posted on social media showing one of Ireland's most successful horse trainers sitting on a dead horse. The horse had apparently died during exercise and there has been mounting criticism over the apparent lack of respect shown by someone who has animals in their care.

There was a discussion on this on the Horse Racing forum but the mods there are very protective of the "sport" and any criticism is regarded as trolling.

What are people's opinions?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2021/0228/1199928-gordon-elliott-issues-apology-for-controversial-photo/

Curse These Metal Hands

It was bad enough until he released that shocking explanation.

The photo was taken by someone on Snapchat with the caption "new work rider this morning." There was obviously a culture of not giving a sh1t about the animals among staff there.

Gregor Samsa

His explanation, that he absent mindedly sat on the dead horse while taking a phone call without realising it, and was then gesturing to someone who tried to speak to him to wait until he had finished his call, should be in the running for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

Notmything

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

His explanation, that he absent mindedly sat on the dead horse while taking a phone call without realising it, and was then gesturing to someone who tried to speak to him to wait until he had finished his call, should be in the running for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

Totally believable, when I found my dad dead I naturally sat on him while I rang the gardai and ambulance.

Scary thing is the hurdles people are jumping to defend him.

randd1

In all fairness, does anyone actually really care?

The only people getting upset by it are the PETA types (who would legalize bestiality if they could) and horsey types (the very same people that ran the horse to death or put it down because of a slight injury), and the usual mix of the permanently outraged.

For the rest of us, its just another outrage story over nothing that matters.

biko

This is the image, it's stupid and in bad taste by Elliott.
https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article23582675.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_STARGORDONELLIOTT.jpg
Don't click if you're sensitive.

Gregor Samsa

randd1 wrote: »

PETA types (who would legalize bestiality if they could)

I'm no fan of PETA, but that's one of the more bizarre claims I've seen made on Boards.

screamer

I don’t get the outrage. The horse was dead FFS.
Would it have been worse if he’d made some horse burgers out of it?
People need to cop on and stop flogging this dead horse, there’s far, far worse things going on in the world right now. Idiots.

riffmongous

biko wrote: »

This is the image, it's stupid and in bad taste by Elliott.
https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article23582675.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_STARGORDONELLIOTT.jpg
Don't click if you're sensitive.

Eugh, what a scumbag

Larbre34

Anyone who thinks this doesn't matter doesn't have anyone known to them who relies on the sport for a living.

These days with animal welfare so (rightly) under the microscope, the horse sports industry has to be seen as unimpeachable when it comes to safety and respect being shown to these animals in their care.

What Gordon Elliott let happen in this case was careless and unthinking. Betfair have already dumped him over it. Ask them if it doesn't matter.

riffmongous

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

I'm no fan of PETA, but that's one of the more bizarre claims I've seen made on Boards.

Sometimes a post says much more about the poster

randd1

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

I'm no fan of PETA, but that's one of the more bizarre claims I've seen made on Boards.

It's PETA, I wouldn't put anything past them.

Scott Tenorman

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

His explanation, that he absent mindedly sat on the dead horse while taking a phone call without realising it, and was then gesturing to someone who tried to speak to him to wait until he had finished his call, should be in the running for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

He's just short of saying he couldn't sweat when it was taken :pac:

biko

randd1 wrote: »

PETA types (who would legalize bestiality if they could)

PETA have a statement to the opposite
https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/petas-statement-bestiality/

James Brown

Heather Humphrey's 'passed' a letter of support for a farmer convicted of animal abuse, him already having a record for same.
I think there's a strong support for the racing industry and a blind eye turned.
This was pretty gross. If you have any care or sympathy for animals you wouldn't behave in such a manner IMO.

ShyMets

randd1 wrote: »

In all fairness, does anyone actually really care?

The only people getting upset by it are the PETA types (who would legalize bestiality if they could) and horsey types (the very same people that ran the horse to death or put it down because of a slight injury), and the usual mix of the permanently outraged.

For the rest of us, its just another outrage story over nothing that matters.

100%. Just a misguided touch of high spirits. Can we now move on to the next case of social media outrage

SEPT 23 1989

He was only having a rest

An Ri rua

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

He was only having a rest

He looks like he needs one, overweight f*CK. Maybe being chased across a field by a few horse lovers would thin him out and take the smugness off his lardy face and arse.

screamer

screamer wrote: »

I don’t get the outrage. The horse was dead FFS.
Would it have been worse if he’d made some horse burgers out of it?
People need to cop on and stop flogging this dead horse, there’s far, far worse things going on in the world right now. Idiots.

Ok, so if someone sits on your dead body, giving the "peace" sign for a photo op, nobody should care, right?

Anyway, for everyone back in the real world, Betfair immediately ended their association with him. Hopefully many more to come. BHA are appalled and indicated he'd be finished if he was in the UK, but as he's Irish, they've to wait and see what their Irish counterparts decide.

What a scumbag.

realdanbreen

Notmything wrote: »

Totally believable, when I found my dad dead I naturally sat on him while I rang the gardai and ambulance.

Scary thing is the hurdles people are jumping to defend him.

Sorry for your loss. Was your Dad a flat horse or national hunt?

Silly Gilly

screamer wrote: »

I don’t get the outrage. The horse was dead FFS.
Would it have been worse if he’d made some horse burgers out of it?
People need to cop on and stop flogging this dead horse, there’s far, far worse things going on in the world right now. Idiots.

This is an industry that receives a large amount of Government funds to keep it afloat. I thinks it's fair that people should discuss if such funding should be made when abhorrent images like these emerge.

Blackjack

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

His explanation, that he absent mindedly sat on the dead horse while taking a phone call without realising it, and was then gesturing to someone who tried to speak to him to wait until he had finished his call, should be in the running for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

he may have had inspiration from this guy

DelaneysMule

I would really worry about any horses under his "care".

Girly Gal

The way he's sitting on the horse, isn't exactly how you'd absent mindedly sit on anything let alone a dead horse. It really shows a lack of respect and empathy to the horse, I'm sure the owner is very impressed!
A lot of owners wouldn't be happy to see the likes of this carryon and I wouldn't be surprised if some owners withdraw their horses from his stables. He depends on horses for his livelihood, the least he should do is show them a little respect.

votecounts

used to be a fan of Elliott, but now after seeing that, he's just a cnut

kildare lad

Just seen that betfair have dropped him now . Better stupid to be allowing himself to be photographed like that

realdanbreen

DelaneysMule wrote: »

I would really worry about any horses under his "care".

I'm sure Elliot will be gutted to hear that you would be really worried. :rolleyes:

Hangdogroad

Silly Gilly wrote: »

Over the weekend an image was posted on social media showing one of Ireland's most successful horse trainers sitting on a dead horse. The horse had apparently died during exercise and there has been mounting criticism over the apparent lack of respect shown by someone who has animals in their care.

There was a discussion on this on the Horse Racing forum but the mods there are very protective of the "sport" and any criticism is regarded as trolling.

What are people's opinions?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2021/0228/1199928-gordon-elliott-issues-apology-for-controversial-photo/

Is that John Connors?

Hangdogroad

biko wrote: »

This is the image, it's stupid and in bad taste by Elliott.
https://i2-prod.irishmirror.ie/incoming/article23582675.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_STARGORDONELLIOTT.jpg
Don't click if you're sensitive.

He looks like a thundering gobshyte in both pictures.

Allinall

Girly Gal wrote: »

The way he's sitting on the horse, isn't exactly how you'd absent mindedly sit on anything let alone a dead horse. It really shows a lack of respect and empathy to the horse, I'm sure the owner is very impressed!
A lot of owners wouldn't be happy to see the likes of this carryon and I wouldn't be surprised if some owners withdraw their horses from his stables. He depends on horses for his livelihood, the least he should do is show them a little respect.

The horse was dead.

How can you show empathy to a dead horse?

Do the knackers arrive in a floral laden truck and say a decade of the rosary before taking it away? :rolleyes:

auspicious

It is sad alright and yes photographic evidence is required to cross our line of sight before we voice our outrage but it's naive to assume this is the worst carry-on within the sport.

Vic_08

Visual confirmation of what many already assumed about the horse racing industry.

You know you're in trouble when online betting platforms are distancing themselves from you on moral grounds.

Hangdogroad

realdanbreen wrote: »

I'm sure Elliot will be gutted to hear that you would be really worried. :rolleyes:

Hi Elliot.

Curse These Metal Hands

Allinall wrote: »

The horse was dead.

How can you show empathy to a dead horse?

Do the knackers arrive in a floral laden truck and say a decade of the rosary before taking it away? :rolleyes:

Well considering they invest so much time into declaring their love and respect for the animals this doesn't exactly reflect that does it?

top floor

Silly Gilly wrote: »

The horse had apparently died during exercise and there has been mounting criticism over the apparent lack of respect shown by someone who has animals in their care.

I see what you did there.

Allinall

Curse These Metal Hands wrote: »

Well considering they invest so much time into declaring their love and respect for the animals this doesn't exactly reflect that does it?

That's live animals.

Can you love or respect a dead horse?

Should they have a wake and let all the other horses come?
They could hand round plates of horse nuts and have a mournful neighing session.

tayto lover

I wonder what the cause of the horse’s death was?

Dyr

Pig ignorant thing to do but all the outrage is a bit OTT, what do people think the horsey industry is about? Feeding them sugarcubes until they run to the rainbow bridge at a ripe old age?

Silly Gilly

Curse These Metal Hands wrote: »

Well considering they invest so much time into declaring their love and respect for the animals this doesn't exactly reflect that does it?

This is the nub of it. The hypocrisy in the difference between the horse racing industry's public words and private actions.

Curse These Metal Hands

Allinall wrote: »

That's live animals.

Can you love or respect a dead horse?

Should they have a wake and let all the other horses come?
They could hand round plates of horse nuts and have a mournful neighing session.

If you think it's illogical to show a level of decency to the remains of an animal you supposedly cared about then there's really no point in talking to you.

You can't go from caring about something to posing comically with it's dead body shortly after it died. If you do, then it's just clear you really don't care about the animals you work with. Which is clear from this photo.

Allinall

Allinall wrote: »

That's live animals.

Can you love or respect a dead horse?

Should they have a wake and let all the other horses come?
They could hand round plates of horse nuts and have a mournful neighing session.

So you'd be fine with someone posing for a photo op/laugh over a family member's dead body, then?

Can't love or respect a dead thing, right?

DelaneysMule

It's a terrible industry. The horses are slaughtered and shipped to France to be eaten once they've been retired. That's the last few quid to be made out of them.

Former Former Former

tayto lover wrote: »

I wonder what the cause of the horse’s death was?

Heart attack, according to Gordon.

Ash.J.Williams

Allinall wrote: »

The horse was dead.

How can you show empathy to a dead horse?

Do the knackers arrive in a floral laden truck and say a decade of the rosary before taking it away? :rolleyes:

that's what i was thinking

randd1

The poor horse was likely ran to death. Had a sulky been attached there's be universal outrage. But it's perfectly fine once it's proper racing.

Yet the outrage is over him sitting on the animal?

If the outrage was of him sitting on the horse after having it run to death I can understand that.

realdanbreen

Vic_08 wrote: »

Visual confirmation of what many already assumed about the horse racing industry.

You know you're in trouble when online betting platforms are distancing themselves from you on moral grounds.

You're kidding, Betfair are lapping this up, they've been mentioned 200 times in the media already today!

Muahahaha

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

His explanation, that he absent mindedly sat on the dead horse while taking a phone call without realising it, and was then gesturing to someone who tried to speak to him to wait until he had finished his call, should be in the running for the Booker Prize for Fiction.

https://twitter.com/arfser/status/1366338148054269953

kildare lad wrote: »

Just seen that betfair have dropped him now . Better stupid to be allowing himself to be photographed like that

Must say I was pretty surprised that a horse trainer is allowed to take sponsorship money from a gambling company. People who gamble on horses really are being taken for mugs.

walshb

Bad error of judgment

But worse things happening every day on race courses.

Human beings whipping horses that are breaking their hears to run for us..running at full tilt as well. But that is not enough for us. We also need to whip them!

Not much said about the constant pain delivered to these beautiful carefree animals, and all for our enjoyment!

realdanbreen

randd1 wrote: »

The poor horse was likely ran to death.

Wow, glad to see you don't believe in spreading wild gossip!

DelaneysMule

Muahahaha wrote: »

https://twitter.com/arfser/status/1366338148054269953



Must say I was pretty surprised that a horse trainer is allowed to take sponsorship money from a gambling company. People who gamble on horses really are being taken for mugs.

You only have to watch a couple of horse races to know that there is a huge amount of corruption involved. Betfair brought about the ability for people to bet on horses to lose races. If you understand jockeyship, its very very clear that some jockeys are riding horses in a manner that ensures they won't win the race. Some horses don't run up to the standard that they usually would run. Some horses display an incredible amount of improvement out of nowhere. I know they are not machines but it's quite clear that the entire sport is very corrupt.

ballsymchugh

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

I'm no fan of PETA, but that's one of the more bizarre claims I've seen made on Boards.

might be a south park fan....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awzr0aErOQw