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James had won a race in Cheltenham in 2020 with the Milan Native trained by Elliott
Photo:
Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images
Jockey Rob James apologized on Tuesday after sharing a video on social media of climbing a dead horse and briefly sitting on its back.
More people can be seen and laughter can be heard, apparently shortly before the body is to be removed.
James had revealed himself to the specialist magazine "Irish Field" as the person depicted.
He said his actions were "totally inappropriate and disrespectful" and that he was "heartbroken about the damage" he caused.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) had previously become aware of the circulating video and announced an investigation into the content on Twitter.
The scandal comes just a day after the renowned Irish racehorse trainer tried to justify Gordon Elliott with a questionable explanation for a photo that appeared on social media and that he is also sitting on a dead horse.
The British Horseracing Authority had provisionally sanctioned Elliott on Monday.
For the duration of the investigation by the Irish authorities, horses that have been trained by Elliott are not allowed to start in Great Britain, but owners could answer their animals to another trainer.
Horse suffered cardiac arrest during exercise
James, who last year won a race in Cheltenham, England with the horse Milan Native trained by Elliott, told Irish Field that the video was from 2016. On April 30, the horse had in the video, a five year old mare suffered cardiac arrest while exercising.
"I sincerely apologize to the mare's owners, the staff who took care of her, the horse racing industry and all horse racing enthusiasts for my actions," he is quoted as saying.
Trying to defend his stupidity at the time would only offend and hurt the many loyal people who supported him throughout his career, James said.
"I've embarrassed my employers, my family, and most of all the sport I love."
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