Irish Horse Trainer, Gordon Elliot, has spoken about an “indefensible moment of madness” as he responds to the widespread outrage and condemnation of an image which emerged of the trainer sitting on a dead horse while smiling and making the peace sign.
The image, which was wide circulated on social media last weekend, is being investigated by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). The trainer will not be permitted to ave runners in Britain until the conclusion of the investigation. However, the British Horseracing Authority has confirmed it will allow the trainer’s horses to run, if transferred to another trainer.
The Meath-based Trainer would have been expected to send many horses to the upcoming Cheltenham Festival, among other UK venues. Gigginstown Stud, who announced on Monday that they will continue to support Elliot, also confirmed that the dead horse in the viral image was one of their horses, called “Morgan”. The 7-year old horse died of a heart aneurysm in 2019.
