Ten horse trainers have been threatened with acid being thrown in their faces by someone dubbed the “acid man”. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Ten horse trainers were contacted by someone called the “Acid Man” who threatened to harm them by throwing acid in their faces.
Among those who have received threats is six-time showjumping trainer Nicky Henderson, who has horses with the King and Queen of England. Top dual-purpose trainer Gary Moore was also threatened, as were Flat trainers Charlie Fellowes and Richard Fahey.
It’s pretty terrible stuff.”
Essex Police are investigating the threats after the National Trainers Federation (NTF) reported them. NTF chief executive Paul Johnson said: “This is pretty terrible.”
Moore was told that the next time he was at a racetrack he would get a punch on the shoulder and acid in the face. Moore added that while it’s concerning and “nothing new,” people can easily find their work and home phone numbers. “There is no easy solution to stop it,” Moore said.
Fellowes answered the phone when the call came in and was with his wife and 3-year-old son when the man made the threat. Although Fellowes said he has received threats from bettors before, this time it felt “very scary.”
The NTF announced in late October the launch of a campaign to encourage coaches to report abuse by callers.
