RACING legend Ted Walsh was forced to apologise for a ‘completely unacceptable’ remark he made during a race.
The Grand National-winning trainer caused uproar after he said ‘a hiding wouldn’t be good enough’ for a horse who refused to jump a bank.
Walsh, seen here with close friend Alex Ferguson, apologised for his ‘unfortunate turn of phrase’
Walsh, father of iconic jockey Ruby, spoke as 150-1 shot Transprint dumped his jockey to the ground during a 3m1f chase at the Punchestown Festival last Saturday.
Commenting on the incident, he said on RTE: “The horse that refused, he’s a dirty, rotten so-and-so to refuse that.
“Jump it both ways, man on his back… Jesus, I’ll tell you one thing, a hiding wouldn’t be good enough for him.”
Walsh’s co-host said it was ‘a bit of a nasty’ thing for the six-year-old horse to refuse after he coped with the obstacle fine on the first circuit.
To which a laughing Walsh replied: “Nasty? Is that all you can say?”
Viewing further replays of the race, Walsh, who won the 2000 National with Papillon, added: “Look at him! Look at the dirty, rotten so-and-so. He had no intention [of jumping it].
“He gave the jockey a horrible fall.
“It’s a wonder he didn’t follow him over and stand on him.
“God, he’s a chicken-hearted so-and-so isn’t he, that horse. Dirty, rotten, cowardly so-and-so.”
Walsh, 72, a lifetime horseman and former jockey, drew widespread criticism for his remarks.
The most vocal was Pippa Hackett, Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture.
She wrote in response to the clip of Walsh’s commentary: “This is completely unacceptable commentary from Ted Walsh on @RTEsport.
“I don’t think anyone in racing or bloodstock could condone the use of this sort of language in relation to a horse. It does nothing for Irish racing.”
Addressing the storm, Walsh apologised for his ‘unfortunate turn of phrase’.
He said: “On RTÉ One’s Racing from Punchestown broadcast last Saturday, when analysing a horse’s refusal to jump an obstacle which led to a young man suffering a heavy fall, I said that ‘a hiding wouldn’t be good enough him’.
“This was an unfortunate turn of phrase and in no way reflects my views on the welfare of animals.
“I would never condone the use of physical force on any animal, and I sincerely apologise for any offence that my words caused.”
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