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Gordon Elliot banned from racing horses in the UK while investigation takes place

Tuesday, 2 March 2021 07:23

Gordon Elliott says he will spend the rest of his life paying for the image of him straddling a dead horse.

The Meath National Hunt trainer is the subject of an I-H-R-B investigation following publication of the picture. 

The British Horseracing Authority have barred Elliott from entering runners in the U-K pending the outcome of the investigation. 

The Cheltenham Festival begins a fortnight from today.

Elliott says the image in question is 'indefensible' born of a 'moment of madness'. 

But he's defended his record regarding equine welfare.

A statement from the BHA reads:

"The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will not allow the Irish trainer Gordon Elliott to race horses in Britain whilst the Irish authorities investigate an image that appeared on social media over the weekend.

"The trainer admitted the photo was genuine and apologised for his actions.

"The BHA, which regulates racing in Britain, will use powers under its own rules to refuse to allow horses trained by Mr Elliott to race in Britain pending consideration of the outcome of the Irish investigation.

"The action taken by the BHA recognises that Mr Elliott is licensed in Ireland, whose regulatory body, the IHRB, is carrying out its own investigation.

"However, Mr Elliott has entered horses to race in Britain, from which point the British Rules of Racing apply to him.

"In an earlier statement, the BHA said it was appalled by the image which undermined its values of respecting and caring for horses."

 

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