Tag Archives: horse racing

Last night.

Panorama on BBC1.

Meanwhile…

“Wherever animals are used for entertainment and profit corners will always be cut. Cruelty, exploitation and death are a sad reality of the horse racing industry here in Ireland and the UK.

“The industry is not glamourous, it’s not fun and it should come to an end because of the immense exploitation and cruelty involved.

“We call on kind people everywhere to tear up their betting slips and would urge progressive members of government to axe any further grants in the upcoming budget to this deadly industry.”

Animal rights campaigner John Carmody this morning.

The Dark Side of Horse Racing (BBC)

Tonight.

Earlier…

Irish trainer Gordon Elliott has apologised after this photo of himself sitting on a dead horse circulated on social media

“The photo in question was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse had died of an apparent heart attack on the gallops. I appreciate that an initial viewing of this photo suggests it is a callous and staged photo but nothing could be further from the truth.

“At what was a sad time, which it is when any horse under my care passes away, my initial reaction was to get the body removed from where it was positioned.

“I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking, I sat down to take it. Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished.”

Grand National and Gold Cup-winning trainer Gordon Elliot.

Seems legit.

Gordon Elliott admits ‘shocking’ photo is real and apologises (Racing Post)

Meanwhile…

Ryanair Boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown horse racing operation expressed their support for Elliott after what it describes as a ‘a grievous but momentary lapse of judgement’.

Fight!

This afternoon.

Gigginstown To be Wound Down (the Irish Field)