LITTLE did some of us think, waking last Saturday to the first calm sunny morning in months that all hell would break loose in the racing world by that evening.

The photo posted on social media of Gordon Elliott astride a dead horse has made headlines in mainstream newsprint and news bulletins.

Every racing journalist was pulled to the airwaves or joined the various podcasts to offer their opinion. It was like the posse of immunologists recruited in the wake of a new virus all last year!

Over the first days of the week there was strong condemnation of the incident by many prominent figures in racing. Some quite strong, some perhaps getting the balance right, like Ted Walsh, in that there was also some sorrow despite the crass stupidity, for the position in which the Elliott stables now found themselves.

Tuesday did not make things much better with the Rob James video appearing, along the same lines of a rider showing disrespect to a dead animal.

The initial statement by Elliott failed to take in the magnitude of the revulsion that animal lovers in generally felt and that it broke an unwritten code of conduct at the core of the sport, and by someone with his standing in the game.

As the week went on and we perhaps became more immunised to the initial disgust, which seemed to pitch many sides against each other. Lydia Hislop, in a Sporting Life column drew praise for putting much in perspective.

“Nothing has breached the racing bubble quite like that image of Elliott,” and it’s very important to look from the outside of that bubble to the wider arena where perception of racing as an unnecessary and cruel sport are deep seated.”

We only have to look at the brilliant TG4 Laochra Rásíochta series on our equine heroes of old, and to compare 30 years ago with today. Things have changed since Istabraq. The connection with the horse is not as strong.

“Elliott’s gross misjudgement has already wreaked on his reputation, his career, his business and those who rely on him for employment.” Hislop continued.

To lessen the offence on the basis that we all make mistakes does not absolve blame here. Most of us live fairly anonymous lives and our mistakes, if made public, would only cause ourselves a bit of personal embarrassment – indeed many may join in saying – yep, I’ve been there too. No one would want to condone the Elliott photo or James video in the context of how damaging it is to see professionals behaving as they did and the negative publicity on the front pages.

Both unsavoury incidents were also witnessed by more than the two direct participants. All should be reprimanded.

Racing’s image can easily be tarnished by something filmed behind the scenes but made public years later.

Newmarket trainer John Berry is another voice of reason and wrote in his blog: “And be in no doubt that that person [who took the photo and video] has brought the sport into disrepute. Exposing the callousness of a trainer does not merely bring that one trainer into disrepute, but it prompts large sections of the public to believe that we are all that uncaring of our charges.”

Today everyone has a phone, wants to give an opinion and they have the means to do so. Modern platforms of sharing content drive news agendas.

Some seemed shocked by the extent of the online reaction. “I really enjoyed Twitter for the last few years but this has turned my stomach. I am now looking at Twitter in a completely different light,” Tony Mullins said.

But this is modern life – like it or not. Everyone has a public audience where you can remain relatively anonymous but do so much harm. Guidelines may well be needed for those holding licences on the dangers of social media or allowing random filming by staff.

For now, while there is much sympathy for those in the yard enduring the consequences, Elliott has to be seen to take a strong reprimand. With the support of Gigginstown, most likely J.P., Philip Reynolds and the Morans and others, it’s still a powerful stable. Horses die on the track, it’s the one thing we can never hide when the morals of racing animals is brought up.

Imagine Elliott having to be interviewed after a horse met his death on the racecourse like Oliver Sherwood did with Many Clouds? Would the public be convinced of expressions of remorse?

Look from a distance to Australia where there is a strong anti-racing sentiment. Look at Golden Gates on Thursday.

Elliott’s records stands to his talents but for the wider image and implications for the sport, reprimand must be accepted.