"And still they gazed and still the wonder grew. That one small head could carry all he knew.
And that small head knew that Impaire Et Passe would win the Champion Hurdle."
I remember the village being flooded for days ( in a drought)and the Council workers could find no leaks; turned out it was the shedding of tears.
P.S. it was the camogie team; not enough prods there anymore for a decent hockey team, though they were crying also.
Slim (12th March 2021)
Missed this what with the Festival going on
Simon McGonagle has been disqualified from racing for nine months at a referrals hearing of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board after being found responsible for taking the photograph that led to trainer Gordon Elliott’s suspension.Seven months will be suspended for a period of one year, after which the disqualification lapses. The sanction takes effect from April 16.
The referral followed an IHRB investigation into an image circulating on social media which first came to their attention on February 27.
During the investigation, it was confirmed McGonagle, a head lad, took the photograph that incriminated Elliott.
Evidence was heard from McGonagle and Denise Foster, who is holding the licence at Cullentra House Stables while Elliott serves his suspension.
In his evidence, McGonagle outlined his experience and employment within racing over approximately 30 years, having been first employed by Elliott in 2007.
The committee heard McGonagle did not contest he took the photograph, that he captioned it and disseminated it to five friends. This ultimately led to the photograph becoming public from an unknown source. He accepted that “by virtue of his actions he was part of a chain of events that has caused damage to the integrity of racing and he fully understands the outrage expressed in relation to this image”.
The referrals committee found McGonagle had acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good reputation of horse racing.
In their findings, they concluded: “We will not repeat what has been said before about the awful image at the heart of this case. The taking of the image was ill-judged and in bad taste and we consider that Mr McGonagle should have known better as a head lad involved in the industry for a considerable time.
“As head lad he should also show a good example to others in the yard. However, we reiterate the points made in the Elliott case that this incident is not concerned with cruelty or horse welfare. Also, having heard the evidence in this case we are no further on as to how this image came into the public domain and we can reach no conclusions on that issue.
“We reach the sanction having considered all of the circumstances, aggravating and mitigating factors, bearing in mind the seriousness of the offence and the need for deterrence, and considering Mr McGonagle’s personal circumstances, in order to reach a proportionate result.”
"The owls are not what they seem"
Outsider (21st March 2021)
Elliot would have been top trainer at Cheltenham if he hadnt been banned.
That fact will not be missed by a whole lot of owners.
viking (22nd March 2021)
And still, I thought a lot of his underperformed significantly. In a lot of the H'caps anyway. Granted Mount Ida won and The Bosses Oscar was an admirable.2nd. But outside of those 2, and without even looking back properly.... A few immediately spring to mind (probably because I backed them).
Grand Roi
Milan Native
Riviere D'etel
Massive disappointments.
Then in the graded races, and relative to the huge market support they came in for, Samcro and Fury Road ran shockers.
Last edited by Double Handful; 22nd March 2021 at 12:13 AM.
The question was asked a while back, way before the infamous photo and the introduction of 'Sneezy' but you'd be forgiven for thinking the rest of the yard had taken a sabbatical during Gordon's enforced holiday as the yard has a strike rate over the past couple of weeks of a mere 4% with just a couple of 6/4 jollies obliging during that period, from 55 runners. It wasn't much better before then either.
Not that you'd expect an invasion at Aintree but I'll be avoiding anything coming over from that yard right now.
Last edited by wilsonl; 6th April 2021 at 4:34 PM.
Alcohol, because no good story ever started with "I was eating this salad..."
Is Elliott back training again?
I see the RP seem to publishing some sympathetic pieces on him this week.
Illegitimi non carborundum
Next week I think? It’s imminent anyway
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#YourStorm
Mr Brightside
All posts are based on the following:
I know what I'm talking about/ I'm having a stab in the dark
I'm bored/ You're an idiot and I'm poking you with sticks
Hope so: idiotic ban.
This Thursday.
Hardly been out of it, been buying all over the summer. Punishment would be stretching the definition.
Vote Alfie!!!!
tiggers1972 (9th September 2021)