Gordon Elliott banned by British racing as sickening picture inquiry begins

Gordon Elliott has said he “cannot apologise enough” after an investigation was launched by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board into an image of the Grand National-winning trainer circulating on social media. (Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire)

MICK Fitzgerald has led racing’s universal condemnation of Gordon Elliott who was last night banned from having runners in Britain after a sickening image of the three-time Grand National-winning trainer and a dead horse appeared on social media.

Fitzgerald, who won the National 25 years ago on Rough Quest, fought back the tears as he spoke about the distress that the photograph had caused to the entire sport.

He spoke out as online betting giant Betfair terminated – with immediate effect – its long-term association with Elliott whose Tiger Roll is due to attempt to win a third National next month.

As Ireland’s racing regulators launch immediate inquiries, the British Horseracing Authority said Elliott would be banned from having runners in this country until the matter is concluded.

Happier picture: Grand National winner Tiger Roll with trainer Gordon Elliott, left, and owner Michael O'Leary. Picture: PA

A statement said: “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. “

Last night’s move paves the way for Elliott to be prevented from saddling runners at this month’s Cheltenham Festival, where he has many leading contenders, and Aintree’s National meeting.

Meanwhile racing stables around Britain took to social media to show pictures of horses being lovingly cared by staff to counter the Elliott scandal.

They all shared the revulsion of Fitzgerald, the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey, who spoke out after Elliott confirmed that the online photo of him sitting on a dead horse on his gallops, while speaking on a mobile phone, was not a fake – the initial assumption of most people in racing.

Fitzgerald was further taken aback when the trainer issued a statement late on Sunday night to “apologise profoundly” for the offence caused and deny that it was “a callous and staged photo”.

Believed to have been taken some years ago, it is unclear who took the photo – but that it was circulated by a disgruntled former stable lad at Elliott’s yard.