The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) have banned trainer Gordon Elliott after a hearing on Friday afternoon.
The trainer has been suspended for 12 months with 6 suspended after an old picture was circulated on social media on Saturday evening of the trainer sitting on a dead horse on the gallops at his Cullentra House Stables near Summerhill in Co. Meath.
Elliott agreed not to attend any race meetings or point-to-points for six months.
The trained agreed to accede to costs for the IHRB, the sanction will begin on March 9th.
Referral Hearing of Mr. Gordon Elliott (Trainer) on Friday 5th March 2021 pic.twitter.com/NftfngdOUl
— IHRB (@ihrb_ie) March 5, 2021
The IHRB announced it was going to investigate the matter on Saturday evening and Gordon Elliott has complied fully with the investigation and attended the disciplinary hearing in person.
The picture of Elliott attracted global media attention leading the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to take the unusual step of refusing to accept entries from the trainer until the investigation has concluded.
The photo prompted two of the yard's sponsors to withdraw their support for the trainer. While on Monday Cheveley Park Stud, who owned eight horses in the trainer's care removed them.
Superstar novice chaser Envoi Allen is one of six horses to be moved to the care of Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead while the other two including Sir Gerhard have relocated to Champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Some high-profile owners have publicly defended the trainer. Ryanair's Michael O'Leary, owner of Gigginstown House says he will not remove his horses from the trainer's care.
Elliott's has trained a Gold Cup winner and two Grand Nationals among many high-profile wins for Gigginstown, to earn the support.
Philip Reynolds, who moved Cheltenham winner Presenting Percy into Gordon Elliott's care at the start of the season, also pledged his support for the trainer and called for the online abuse to relent.
The ban means no horses will run at Cheltenham under Elliott's name while dual-winner Tiger Roll has already been withdrawn from this year's Aintree Grand National.
