Gordon Elliott

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Supposed to have been taken in July. Strange that it’s only now surfaced. According to the Daily Mail, it’s been digitally edited. Lets hope so.

Daily Mail aren't saying that it's been digitally edited. They're saying that 'some reports say it's been digitally edited'.

Any expert with a bit of Photoshop knowledge should be able to clear it up however.

The DayDream wrote: »

The Elliott camp is of course trying to say it's fake. Doesn't look like photoshop to me, and would be a bizarre thing to conjure up for no reason.

Nothing surprising about it other than it got out. Anyone under any illusion that the people involved in horse training really love the animals and all that shíte they spout is incredibly naive. It's all for money.

It's pretty common though for people who work with animals daily to be fairly blasé about the death of them and have a dark sense of humor. Worked at a vet once and when I was new I was shocked to see a dead husky that was blocking a doorway be kicked across the floor out of the way by one of the techs. Years later I worked at a shelter and the only way you could deal with the horror of having animals you cared for put to death every week was become detached to a certain extent and dark jokes were a coping mechanism.

But this is a bad look. You could easily form the opinion after seeing that photo that GE isn't any better than the ones who were caught shooting greyhounds on the rte special that aired a few years ago he just makes a lot more money.

My daughter works in the racing industry, not this yard, and the staff there are horrified with this photo. A bit of a generalisation to say that this sort of attitude is common.

"The Elliott camp is of course trying to say it's fake. Doesn't look like photoshop to me, and would be a bizarre thing to conjure up for no reason."


Who from the Elliot camp is saying this? His own statement last night never denied it.


How does him getting another consenting adult pregnant make him a prick? I'm not defending him because he's not covering himself in glory the last few weeks but having sex with someone is hardly worth slating him over.

JJs Left Hand wrote: »

"The Elliott camp is of course trying to say it's fake. Doesn't look like photoshop to me, and would be a bizarre thing to conjure up for no reason."


Who from the Elliot camp is saying this? His own statement last night never denied it.


How does him getting another consenting adult pregnant make him a prick? I'm not defending him because he's not covering himself in glory the last few weeks but having sex with someone is hardly worth slating him over.

Not criticising him for getting someone pregnant, criticising him because apparently he wants nothing to do with the child and has been getting involved with other members of his stable. That’s what has been causing controversy. All hearsay so could very well be false but all these things adding up doesn’t exactly help his image.

blackcard wrote: »

If the photo is real, it is hard to know what punishment, if any, racing authorities could impose on him. He hasn't broken any rule as such even if it is in very poor taste. There is no evidence that the animal was mistreated. I see calls on twitter calling for him to be banned but not sure how tis can be done. I could see some owners pulling horses from him as they will not want the negative publicity that this will bring

Calls to ban or revoke his license are well over the top alright, think some sort of fine for misconduct is fair. In my opinion it’s real

EICVD wrote: »

Calls to ban or revoke his license are well over the top alright, think some sort of fine for misconduct is fair. In my opinion it’s real

They will come under so much pressure they will have to be seen to ban him. Wont be showing his face in Cheltenham id say

Gordon Elliott has issued an apology and provided some context for the controversial photo that emerged on social media on Saturday night that showed him sitting on a dead horse on the side of a gallop, insisting that "horse welfare and care are at the core of everything" that is done at his Cullentra House Stables.

Elliott had already said on Twitter that he would be "cooperating fully" with an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) investigation into the image, which prompted the BHA to urge the Irish authorities to act quickly to confirm how the "shocking picture" originated.

The IHRB's official investigation remains a work in progress, but, via a statement on Sunday night, Elliott has sought to provide some background to the sequence of events that led to the picture.

The statement read: "I would like to address the speculation and rumours that have been rife since an old photo of me began circulating on social media yesterday afternoon.

"Firstly, I apologise profoundly for any offence that this photo has caused and can categorically state that the welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount and has been central to the success that we have enjoyed here at Cullentra.

"The photo in question was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse had died of an apparent heart attack on the gallops. 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.

"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. 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.

"However, I feel it is important to provide people with some context surrounding this photo. To the racing community, to anyone who has worked with and loves horses and to anyone offended by this image I cannot apologise enough.

"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.

"Again I apologise for any offence caused and ask people to consider this statement as opposed to the various falsehoods and misinformation being circulated on social media.

"At this time I would like to stress that I continue to extend my full cooperation with the ongoing IHRB investigation."

The image, posted from an account unconnected to the Grand National and Gold Cup-winning trainer, was widely circulated on the social media platform, leading the IHRB to tweet that it was aware of the picture on social media and that "an investigation was taking place".

Elliott initially responded on Twitter to say: "I'm aware of a photo in circulation on social media. The IHRB have been in contact with me regarding this photo and I will be cooperating fully with their investigation."

Huge disconnect between the outraged mob on social media with no clue what working with animals entails (warn him off for life) and what his owners will be thinking (what's all the fuss about?)

Seriously who with a horse there wouldn't be happy with his results and leave the training to the trainer. Say the likes of Philip Reynolds - no way is he going anywhere.

The explanation is so bad... Who ****ing approved that...better to give no context at all.

What a complete **** show

Imhof Tank wrote: »

What's wrong with it? All he could have added was how he will be firing whatever staff took the pic and added the hilarious caption.
Such a total non story this. Daily Mail :rolleyes:

If you think this is a "total non story" then you're an absolute clown.

The photo shows him smiling and doing the peace sign and he says he was gesturing at someone to wait!!

He rightly spends 98% of the statement apologising but that one line has become the take out. Its horrendous PR.

I'm not outraged. It makes no difference to me. I am a bit disappointed that he sat down on the horse obviously as its just a bit ignorant but his attempt at context when the photo clear as day contradicts it just makes his whole statement worthless.

It actually defies logic that statement was released by any competent person in this day and age

Am repulsed by this, hard to conceive any trainer or horseman acting like that, let alone one of the biggest trainers either here or in the uk. As to possible sanctions, its difficult to know. Presumably he can be charged under the disrepute rule that governs the sports reputation. Remember there was a lot of bad publicity when they let davy off with a slap on the wrist a few years back, this is a step well beyond that i would say.