Gordon Elliott

[Clodagh]

And THAT photo.
What do you think? Is it for real? If so is he deeply stupid?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Appalling. Yes and yes 🤬

 

[Mule]

The horse looks dead and its eyes are open so it's not asleep. What sort of weirdo does that?

 

[Clodagh]

I think it is sick. I get that horses drop dead, I get its been untacked and is presumably waiting for the knackers wagon but why do the photoshoot? It is beyond comprehension.

 

[IrishMilo]

Just seen the photo. What a pr*ck.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I sincerely hope that it is a digitally altered photo. The horse has no saddle mark or brow band mark on it. The horse is also very poor rather than light and fit. Of course it could have dropped before doing any work and therefore would not be hot so would not have a tack mark on it.

This close to Cheltenham and with this year appearing to be an Ireland whitewash, there could well be some sick folk wanting to create problems for Mr Elliott.

If it is real racing is facing its darkest day.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s a grim image, but I do think that it looks like a photoshop effort.

I’m not a racing buff, so have no opinion on whether this is what GE might get up to.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/s...estigation-image-sat-dead-horse-surfaces.html

 

[Goldenstar]

I hope it’s a fake and I think it’s likely it is
I don’t think anyone in racing is that careless with their image .

 

[MyBoyChe]

Havent seen it so no idea what photo is of but there was a post in a racing site Im on and they have removed the pic and turned off comments so I assume it must be unsavoury

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I sincerely hope it is photoshopped! I really really really do for the sake of racing but ...

Whatever happens I hope the Irish Racing Board act quickly before Cheltenham one way or the other.

 

[Clodagh]

I know the Mail is not the true heights of investigative journalism but they say ‘a source close to the photographer’ said it was taken on the gallops last year.

 

[Clodagh]

I imagine the worst he would get is ‘bringing racing into disrepute ‘?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Racing Post -

Elliott says he will cooperate with IHRB investigation into social media picture | Horse Racing News | Racing Post

Surely Mr Elliott would have immediately denied any involvement if there is no truth to the picture. To say he will 'cooperate' with investigations suggests, for me, the photo could be real.

 

[Smitty]

I found this photo deeply unpleasant and at best a hugely misguided attempt at dark humour.

I so badly want it to be photoshopped or whatever.

If it turns out to be real I would hope that all his owners find alternative trainers for their horses. To think that someone who makes a living from horses and has so little respect for them is chilling.

 

[Steerpike]

I really do hope it is photo shopped, in honesty though I never liked the look of him I have to say, so wouldn't actually be surprised if it wasn't, if that makes sense.

 

[paddi22]

I do photoshop for a living and if it's photoshopped then it's a masterpiece. I'd be 99.9% sure it's not photoshopped - the light, shadows and weight distribution all look correct and there's no cloning or blurring of pixels.

plus if someone accused you of being in a photo like this, wouldn't your first reaction be 'that's no me' not 'i'm helping the investigation.'

 

[Clodagh]

I found this photo deeply unpleasant and at best a hugely misguided attempt at dark humour.

I so badly want it to be photoshopped or whatever.

If it turns out to be real I would hope that all his owners find alternative trainers for their horses. To think that someone who makes a living from horses and has so little respect for them is chilling.

I doubt it will bother Gigginstown. I hope others will be more discerning.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

People are saying photo shop but im not so sure. His legs look at the right angle etc, the only thing possibly suggesting photoshop is the shading on GE looks different to the rest of the picture. Also the horses right front leg doesn't look right, too short from the shoulder to knee though that may just be the angle

His statement seemed a bit brief I'd have said something like I categorically deny the event I have deep respect for the horses in my care and will work with the relevant authorities etc etc

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I doubt it will bother Gigginstown. I hope others will be more discerning.

Unfortunately Gigginstown like you say probably won't care- his desperation to persist with Tiger Roll and the whole oh he will be retired yet you just know he's going for that 3rd National. They have so many horses they are just numbers to them.

 

[Smitty]

I have to agree with the general consensus here but I so want it to be a fake ...

 

[LEC]

I think sadly it’s real but I wonder what has gone on behind the scenes that this photo has now emerged.

 

[photo_jo]

I do photoshop for a living and if it's photoshopped then it's a masterpiece. I'd be 99.9% sure it's not photoshopped - the light, shadows and weight distribution all look correct and there's no cloning or blurring of pixels.

I'd agree with you except there's a line of pale light that should not be there

 

[paddi22]

it's that line that makes me think it isn't, as thats how the light would land on a denim style surface. if you look at the guys leg to the left, the light hits the material on his leg the same way

 

[photo_jo]

it's that line that makes me think it isn't, as thats how the light would land on a denim style surface. if you look at the guys leg to the left, the light hits the material on his leg the same way

I also use photoshop all the time and I said real for the same reasons as you, the foot in the sand etc etc until I saw that weird line on the knee-I so hope I'm right

 

[paddi22]

we get asked to make composite shots for advertising campaigns and if you were asked to recreate that shot it would be so tricky. you would need someone to have posed on say, a barrel, the exact same height as the horse, and turned at exactly the same angle (which would be really tricky unless you were measuring it and setting it up purposely) and photographed with the same perspective as the original shot. his body is lined up perfectly with the line of the horses body.

you couldn't have clipped his body off a shot of him sitting on a horse, because his weight is in his left foot, so it isn't dangling like it would be on a horse. the way his leg is curved around the horses body is 100% correct and that would be tricky to do.

 

[photo_jo]

we get asked to make composite shots for advertising campaigns and if you were asked to recreate that shot it would be so tricky. you would need someone to have posed on say, a barrel, the exact same height as the horse, and turned at exactly the same angle (which would be really tricky unless you were measuring it and setting it up purposely) and photographed with the same perspective as the original shot. his body is lined up perfectly with the line of the horses body.

you couldn't have clipped his body off a shot of him sitting on a horse, because his weight is in his left foot, so it isn't dangling like it would be on a horse. the way his leg is curved around the horses body is 100% correct and that would be tricky to do.

I agree with you on all your points-it's just that weird line

 

[ycbm]

I can't imagine the circumstances where an innocent man wouldn't simply have said "it's a fake".
.

 

[paddi22]

it occurs a lot in photos, this is good example of it, this photo isn't photoshops but he has a light rim all around him

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I was wondering what he'd have to be sat on to have his legs at such a perfect angle as to seamlessly fit onto the horse.

I can only possibly think of him sat on a chair or bench maybe? I don't recall seeing any pictures of him riding

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I can't imagine the circumstances where an innocent man wouldn't simply have said "it's a fake".
.

Exactly I'd be quick to make clear that I had utmost respect for the horses in my care, appalled to see such an image and will be working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure my name is cleared