Bookmaking giant Paddy Power has been labelled 'deluded' and accused of crossing a line after a bizarre publicity stunt at Wolverhampton's Dunstall Park racecourse backfired spectacularly.
The controversial gambler-named a horse 'Bradley Walsh' and entered it into a race on Monday evening, a move seemingly designed to grab headlines. However, the plan unravelled when the two-year-old colt, a 50-1 outsider, trailed the field and finished a distant last.
Racing Community Reacts with Fury
The PR gamble has provoked a furious reaction from horse racing purists and professionals alike. Critics slammed the move as a cheap stunt that shows a blatant disrespect for the sport's integrity and the animals involved.
Many took to social media to express their anger, with one fan calling the bookmaker 'an absolute disgrace' for treating a racehorse as a mere marketing tool. The sentiment was widely echoed, with others accusing Paddy Power of being 'deluded' for thinking the stunt was clever or funny.
A History of Controversial Campaigns
This incident is not the first time Paddy Power's edgy marketing strategies have caused outrage. The brand has built its reputation on provocative and often controversial advertising campaigns that push the boundaries of taste.
While these stunts often generate significant media coverage, the backlash from the Wolverhampton event suggests the company may have finally overstepped the mark with its core audience of racing enthusiasts.
The episode raises serious questions about the ethics of using live animals in marketing gimmicks and the growing tension between traditional sporting values and modern, attention-seeking gambling advertising.
