As the dust continues to settle on the protest that tried so hard and ultimately failed to halt the Grand National, people within racing have been standing up for the sport in recent days.
Animal Rising protesters had free reign to spout whatever opinions and theories they had on racing ahead of the Aintree showpiece on television and radio largely unchallenged last week and broke on to the course ahead of last Saturday's race.
They did not succeed, with police removing some protesters from the course and stopping many more from getting on to it, along with the help of some Liverpool locals.
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The impact of the protest? They got the attention they so desperately crave and undoubtedly contributed to injuries suffered by some horses during the race.
Racing TV's Tom Stanley revealed how in nine renewals of the Grand National since fence modifications in 2013, the number of fallers or unseats over the first two fences was 023322212 (17 in total). There were eight in Saturday's race.
Davy Russell explained on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme how important pre-race is for horses, saying they are most at ease when galloping and jumping on the track and that it is the pre-race build-up that they can find difficult.
On Saturday, that was dragged out and the trainer of Hill Sixteen, the sole fatality in the race, has no doubt that the delay played a huge part in his horse, who had never fallen in 26 previous races, going down at the first fence.
Sandy Thomson said after the race: "He just hasn't taken off at the first fence; he's got so bloody hyper because of the carry on.
"Unfortunately, it's a statistic we're all trying to avoid (a horse dying). He's jumped round here twice and never had a bother. I don't know when he last fell. I know how ignorant these people are and they haven't a bloody clue. They just cause more problems than they ever solve."
Russell's mount Galvin also cut his leg on one of the ladders thrown on to an area close to the course after he got loose following an unseat at the first fence. That's a cut the horse should never have suffered.
The Stand Up For Racing campaign has been defending the sport in recent days, with horse breeder and broadcaster Kevin Blake exposing the huge flaws in an Animal Rising representative's argument on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday.
Ben Newman from the group had the genius idea of rehousing the 50,000 thoroughbreds currently in the UK in sanctuaries if racing was to be banned immediately, the capacity for which to do so clearly isn't there.
Ahead of the Grand National, Sarah McCaffrey from Animal Rising went even further and claimed that thoroughbred horses, who require specialist exercise and nutrition, as well as extreme care, could be released into the wild after they "rewild land that’s being used for animal agriculture". A wild idea indeed.
What these animal rights groups consistently ignore is the fact these horses are bred to race, the very reason they are on this planet is to compete in races. There's a reason why when they fall and get back up without a jockey on board that they continue running, it's because that is what they love doing.
These groups also constantly suggest that those who enjoy racing are heartless people who abuse horses for entertainment and betting purposes, something that is complete and utter rubbish.
This year's Cheltenham Festival was arguably one of the best ever, but one image that stands out from the week is the video below of Dysart Dynamo's groom, who cried tears of relief as she was reunited with the horse she looks after following his fall in the Arkle Chase.
Constitution Hill was roared into the winners enclosure at Aintree last week and at odds of 2/15, people weren't cheering because they had won huge sums of money off him, they were applauding because they know he is racing's Messi, Bolt, Ronaldo, Woods etc.
But unfortunately these magnificent animals are extremely fragile. However, fatalities don't just happen on racecourses, despite what animal rights people will claim.
Espoir D'Allen won the 2019 Champion Hurdle by a record 15 lengths and was described by JP McManus' retained jockey Mark Walsh as the best horse he had ever ridden. He had to be put down following a freak accident at home just months later at the age of five. Who knows what he could have achieved?
Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour similarly died after suffering a freak injury in a paddock three years previously. He was only seven and had won ten of his 16 races.
The above are just two examples of horses dying at home, sadly there are many more due to how fragile they are.
Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer of Grand National winner Corach Rambler, spoke on that topic following Saturday's race.
He said: "Death is inevitable with all horses and can happen to them anywhere in the countryside.
"Take Corach. He will go to Kenny Alexander's stud in Ayr for the summer and it's beautiful and the safest environment I can put him in, but we'll still be panicking about him – we'll never stop death.
"Corach has been inches from harm just in the yard – all it takes is a silly moment from a horse."
Letting thoroughbred horses run free on their own as Animal Rising wants would lead to countless fatalities and cause complete and utter carnage.
And then there's the massive effect shutting down racing would have on employment. And be under no illusion that is exactly what these animal rights groups want - to ban all horse racing everywhere. It would have catastrophic effects.
The breeding and racing industry supports some 28,900 direct and indirect jobs in Ireland, and generates €1.84bn in total expenditure. The industry supports around 85,000 jobs in the UK. It doesn't take a mathematician to work out the disastrous effect banning racing would have economically.
For the people who continue to oppose racing and the industry, I suggest they take a trip to the National Stud in Co Kildare to see just how well horses are looked after.
You can see legends of the sport past and stallions, as well as young foals and see the level of care these animals get.
Sadly, it looks as though racing will have to continue to defend itself against these attacks, so now more than ever it's vital that those within the sport, as well as fans of it, stand up for racing.
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