Gordon Elliott is slapped with six-month ban in the wake of photo scandal

Mr Elliott was before the Referrals Committee of the IHRB at Naas racecourse yesterday after a picture, taken in 2019, emerged last weekend of the Meath trainer sitting on top of a dead horse, seven-year-old gelding Morgan, on his gallops.

The 43-year-old was found in breach of Rule 272 (i) “which relates to the proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing” after the controversial photo caused serious damage to the racing industry.

Mr Elliott told the three-person committee, chaired by Mr Justice Raymond Groarke and accompanied by Mrs Justice Siobhan Keegan and Nick Wachman, that his ill-judged conduct was “disgraceful, horrific, wholly inappropriate and distasteful”.

The IHRB acknowledged the receipt of an avalanche of complaints with the matter “rightly and fully scrutinised in the media” and Mr Elliott was said to have “fully cooperated” during their investigations without contesting the fact of the photograph.

The Committee deduced that the image showed “the most appalling bad taste” with “a complete absence of respect for the horse at a time when he still remains in his charge”.

The photo was deemed to have caused “enormous distress” for those inside and outside of racing with Mr Elliott “callously participating in posing for a photograph which, given all the circumstances, was entirely inappropriate.”

It was clearly noted that Mr Elliott’s case was “not an act of cruelty to animals” or an animal welfare issue, however, with horses in his care looked after to “the highest standards” and his success being “testament to the care and attention” given to his 200-plus team at Cullentra.

The committee also noted a “sinister aspect” to the case with publication believed to be “part of a concerted attack upon Mr Elliott” given the timing of the photo’s release, two years after it was taken.

In their sanction considerations, the committee judged that Mr Elliott’s actions have “damaged the reputation of the Irish racing and the thoroughbred industry” but they felt that he had shown “genuine remorse” for his “extraordinarily foolish” actions.

“The sanction to be visited upon Mr Elliott by this committee is but one of a plethora of punishments which he is already suffering and will likely continue to suffer,” the IHRB judgement read.

“These include serious damage to his reputation and, anecdotally, substantial economic loss through loss of business contracts and departure of horses from his yard to be trained elsewhere.”

Evidence given by the IHRB’s senior medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh highlighted the effects of the photo scandal on Mr Elliott’s health as well as the “considerable adverse consequences” to his staff and businesses in the locality of his Longwood yard.

Mr Elliott had his licence terminated for 12 months – the last six months suspended – as well as incurring costs of €15,000 to the IHRB while he stated that he will not attend a race meeting or a point-to-point for six months with his ban commencing on Tuesday.

Mr Elliott, who has sent out nearly 2,000 career winners and notched a double at Fairyhouse yesterday, will be back in time for the start of the next jumps season with his ban concluding in September.

Contingency plans are understood to be in place for the sizeable string of horses under Mr Elliott’s care to be transferred to another licence holder and he will have no runners in his name at the Cheltenham Festival, jump racing’s marquee meeting, later this month.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) had placed a temporary ban on Mr Elliott having a runner on British soil until a verdict was reached, but prominent Cheltenham hopes like dual Aintree Grand National winner Tiger Roll could still take part.

“If horses are transferred to other licensed trainers prior to March 9 – when the suspension is due to commence – they will be able to run,” a BHA statement said last night.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin labelled Mr Elliott’s behaviour as “absolutely unacceptable” and the under-fire trainer had “no complaints” with the verdict as he prepares to bounce back from the biggest challenge of his career.

“I have a long road ahead but I will serve my time and then build back better,” Elliott said.