Ten horse trainers have been contacted by someone called the “acid man” who has threatened to cause them harm by throwing acid in their faces.

Among those to have received threats include six-time champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson who has horses with the King and Queen of England. Top dual-purpose trainer Gary Moore has also been threatened, as have flat trainers Charlie Fellowes and Richard Fahey.

it’s pretty horrendous stuff”

Essex police are investigating the threats after the National Trainers Federation (NTF) reported them. NTF chief executive Paul Johnson said, “it’s pretty horrendous stuff.”

Moore was told that the next time he was on a racetrack, he would receive a tap on his shoulder and have acid thrown in his face. Moore added that while it’s disturbing and “nothing new,” people can easily find their office and personal phone numbers. “There isn’t an easy solution to stopping it,” Moore said.

Fellowes answered his phone when the call came through and was with his wife and three-year-old son when the man made the threat. Even though Fellowes said he’s received threats from bettors before, this time it felt “very sinister.”

The NTF announced in late October the launch of a campaign to encourage trainers to report abuse from callers.