TRAINER GORDON ELLIOTT will not be allowed to race horses in Britain while the investigation in Ireland continues to the image that appeared on social media over the weekend.
The news is a major announcement a fortnight out from the start of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
Elliott has apologised ‘profoundly for any offence’ that was caused after the picture was released of the trainer sitting on a dead horse on the gallops.
But British authorities have reacted and this evening revealed their decision with the IHRB already having launched their investigation. Owners of horses trained by Elliott will be permitted to transfer them to a different trainer and run them at a British meeting, provided they comply with relevant rules.
British horseracing acts over Gordon Elliott image
— BHA Press Office (@BHAPressOffice) March 1, 2021
➡️https://t.co/A9penWS2Jj
Here’s the full statement released by the BHA tonight.
“The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will not allow 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.
“The decision to refuse to allow horses trained by Mr Elliott to run in Britain is therefore an interim decision which the BHA regards as proportionate in these circumstances.”
Earlier today the BHA said it was ‘appalled by the image which undermined its values of respecting and caring for horses’.
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