Mick Fitzgerald's first reaction when he saw the photo of Gordon Elliot sitting on top of a dead horse was to think, 'It has to be a fake'.
Fast forward from Saturday when the photo emerged on social media to late on Sunday night when Elliott released a statement, and Fitzgerald just felt sadness.
Elliott's statement provided what he called "context" to the photo, mainly that, "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."
“These horses have given me a life that I’m privileged to have, and it just makes me really sad.”
An emotional @mickfitzg addresses the unfolding story surrounding Gordon Elliott with @TonyEnnis11 pic.twitter.com/3tfPKfNfGP— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 1, 2021
"When I read that statement, I felt so sad," Grand National winning jockey Fitzgerald told Sky Sports Racing.
"The number one thing that we have to get out to everybody is how much we care about these horses. It is so important that everybody who is watching this channel who has any interest at all in our sport knows that at the heart of this are people who love these animals.
"It's making me quite emotional. These horses have given me a life that I'm privileged to have. It just makes me feel really sad.
"I've been in situations where horses I've looked after and ridden have unfortunately paid the ultimate sacrifice in our sport. The care and attention that they get right till the very end, we have to emphasise to everybody that it is so important, that people know we care for these horses."
Picture credit: Sportsfile
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