The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Racing in turmoil after star trainer pictured sitting astride a dead horse
Europe: Racing in Britain and Ireland was reeling this week after an image appeared on social media showing Gordon Elliott, one of the world’s leading jumps trainers, making a phone call while sitting on a dead horse on his gallops.
The entire industry in both countries was quick to condemn the 43-year-old Irishman, who will not now be permitted to have runners in Britain until the conclusion of an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) investigation, set to begin on Friday (March 5). The three-time Grand National winner has been gearing his powerhouse stable towards a major raid at the Cheltenham Festival starting on March 16. He was champion trainer at the festival in 2017 and 2018.
Elliott admitted in a statement that he took a phone call and sat down on the horse “without thinking”, adding the image was taken “some time ago”.
It is has since been confirmed that the horse was the 7-year-old gelding Morgan, owned by multi-champion owner Gigginstown Stud. Winner of four of his 21 starts, Morgan died of an aneurysm on Elliott’s gallops in 2019.
Elliott told the Racing Post’s David Jennings he had let down the racing industry, his owners and his staff with an “indefensible moment of madness”.
“I will be punished. I fully understand that. But it absolutely breaks my heart to read and hear people say that I have no respect for my horses. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
He has been dropped as a brand ambassador for online bookmaker Betfair and his yard sponsor, eCOMM Merchant Solutions, terminated its contract; Cheveley Park Stud removed all eight of its horses with him, including the unbeaten Envoi Allen, seen by many as a future superstar of the sport.
However, Gigginstown Stud, his main benefactor, said it was “deeply disappointed” by the shocking photo, but has vowed to support the trainer while accepting that the photo “was a grievous but momentary lapse of judgement”.
Famed former jockey and trainer Ted Walsh told the Racing Post, “My experience of being in Gordon’s yard a couple of times is that it's a first-class outfit. It’s like a five-star hotel, everything is well looked after and his results show that his horses are in top condition. His staff are well turned out and they love the horses. I’m dumbfounded. It’s alien to what I expected. I never thought I’d see that in a picture.”
He added, "The disrespect for the horse was shocking. I’m so sorry for him [Gordon] because I know how hard it is to get to where [he was]. It’s going to be a long road back, but people have come back from different things in the past where you’d have thought it may have been hard to do so.”
Meanwhile, a day after the horrendous image of Elliott came to light, a video was released on social media of amateur jockey Rob James mounting a dead horse at a gallop. Laughter can be heard from the group, who appeared to be about to take the body away.
James, who has 235 winners in point-to-points, rode the Elliott-trained Milan Native to win the Kim Muir Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival . He told the Irish Field the video was filmed five years ago.
“I would just like to apologise for my actions which were wholly inappropriate and disrespectful,” he said. “I sincerely apologise to the owners of the mare, the staff who cared for her, the horseracing industry and all followers of horseracing for my actions. To try defending my stupidity at the time would add further insult.”
Irad Ortiz in trouble after punching Paco Lopez
North America: Gulfstream Park stewards have fined America’s champion jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr, $1,000 for an assault on weighing-room colleague Paco Lopez after the fourth race on February 26 at the Florida track. The pair have been placed on the on probation for the remainder of the championship meet.
Ortiz, currently #3 in the TRC Global Jockeys’ Rankings, recorded an 11-length triumph on 1/2 favourite Known Agenda, but the 28-year-old Puerto Rican took exception to Lopez veering out on his mount rounding the bend.
The jockeys were filmed shouting at each other after getting off their horses, and a few minutes later Ortiz found the seated Lopez and rained punches on the defenceless 28-year-old – three of which connected with his head
Lopez told the TDN that he wants to move on from the incident. “For me, it’s over. I don’t want any trouble going forward,” Lopez said.
Stewards opted to allow the original order of finish to stand.
Enable in foal to Kingman
Europe: Dual Arc winner Enable is in foal to world top 20 sire Kingman, Juddmonte Farms has announced.
Both horses ran in the famous pink, white and green silks of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah and were trained throughout their respective careers by world #2 John Gosden.
“Fifteen days after cover, champion Enable was this morning successfully scanned in foal to Kingman. Hopefully an exciting new chapter in this remarkable mare’s story,” Juddmonte told its almost 40,000 Twitter followers.
Read Nancy Sexton’s recent article on Kingman’s building momentum here, and her interview with Gosden on the qualities that make Kingman such a successful sire here.
Now it’s Kieren Fallon, assistant trainer
Europe: New Newmarket trainer Darryll Holland has named former rival in the saddle Kieren Fallon as his assistant trainer at his Harraton Court Stables, which has 50 boxes and was purchased by Holland in 2008.
“We've got a wealth of experience — about 70 years between us, can you believe? So, if we can't find a few winners there’s something wrong,” joked Holland.
The duo will aim to begin with a string of around 20 and Holland is looking forward to the breeze-ups “so we can go and source some more nice stock” for the “plenty of potential owners [they have] on board”.
Six-time British campion jockey Fallon has recently ridden work for a number of major training set-ups, including Godolphin, and the 55-year-old has also played the role of mentor to his dual-champion apprentice son Cieren.
Fallon Jr is second jockey for Qatar Racing but “if the opportunity arises and he’s available”, Holland expects him to ride for his operation. “Cieren is a good jockey and I’m sure he'’l listen to the orders with his dad being here,” said the multiple G1-winning jockey.
They will also be calling on the services of world #1 Frankie Dettori. Holland said he promised to not to “put him on any slow ones, only the 4/5 shots!”.
“Frankie did us a really nice video with a good luck message. He’s been a pal of mine for years and I sat next to him in the weighing room when I was in the UK,” said Holland.
Northern Farm mourns champion Cesario
Asia: It has been announced that Cesario, winner of G1 races on two continents, died at Northern Farm in Japan on February 27, aged 19, due to what was described as “the haemorrhagic shock due to ruptured arteries around the uterus”.
The daughter of Special Week was trained by Katsuhiko Sumii and won five of six career starts. She was named the Japanese champion 3-year-old filly of 2005.
Northern Farm’s Katsumi Yoshida said, “It was suddenly so I was just surprised and felt that my chest tightened. Not only the brilliant race results of winning the Japanese and American Oaks, but also the brilliant broodmare who produced three sires — Epiphaneia, who produced the fillies' triple crown winner [Daring Tact], Leontes whose son won the Saudi Derby recently, and Saturnalia, who entered the stud from this year. I have only words of thanks to her.”
Keeneland’s Spring Meet packages
North America: Keeneland has announced plans to offer fans a limited number of ticket packages for dining, reserved grandstand seating and general admission for the 2021 Spring Meet on April 2-23.
Newly appointed president and CEO Shannon Arvin said the historic Lexington operation is “eager to welcome fans, although fewer in number”, adding that it has“missed our fans as much as they’ve missed Keeneland, particularly at this time of year”.
“While we are still limited in capacity, our team is hard at work creating unique touches that will deliver the exceptional and safe race-day experience our guests expect,” she added.
All ticket packages were designed in accordance with Covid-19 safety protocols and will be pre-sold online in two phases. Visit Keeneland.com/tickets for information.
Elsewhere in racing …
North America: Bulletproof One, Mucho Unusual and Warren’s Showtime have been named as the three finalists for California Thoroughbred Breeders Association’s (CTBA) 2020 Horse of the Year. The eventual winner will be announced at the annual meeting and awards event on March 15.
Europe: The Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale catalogue has been unveiled, with 168 lots. More here
Europe: Shadwell has revealed mating plans for its broodmare band, which includes Taghrooda, Tawkeel and Enbihaar. More here
North America: William Stacy Patterson, a prominent Lexington businessman and Thoroughbred owner/breeder, has died at the age of 88. More here
Oceania: Lucky Vega, the 2020 G1 Phoenix Stakes-winning son of Lope de Vega, will stand in Australia after his racing career. More here