It is one of the world's most iconic races and, for many people, a good excuse to dress up and put a bet on, as well as watching some exciting sporting action. However, there is a dark side to the Grand National, with many horses losing their lives at Aintree over the years.
The 2023 three-day racing festival at Aintree claimed the lives of three horses this year: Envoye Special, Dark Raven and, in the showpiece Grand National, Hill Sixteen.
Last year saw four horses die over the course of the three-day festival, with two being pronounced dead following the showpiece event. Eclair Surf and Discorama both died after running in the famous steeplechase 12 months ago, with the former suffering a traumatic head injury in a fall and the latter being euthanised after picking up an "untreatable" pelvic injury.
While modern steeplechase races have an average of just over four equine fatalities for every 1,000 horses taking part, according to the British Horseracing Authority, the National's rate is considerably higher, with seven out of 439 horses taking part between 2000 and 2010 dying as a result of their involvement.
READ MORE: What it's like living next to Aintree on Grand National day
The deaths have been condemned by animal rights groups including the RSCPA, who say that "the death of any horse is always one too many," while animal rights activists and campaign groups have kept up their calls for stricter safety measures to be introduced within horse racing.
But how many horses have died at the Grand National, what is causing these deaths and what are authorities doing about it? Here's everything you need to know:
How many horses have died at the Grand National?
Since the first Grand National in 1839, 89 horses have died during the race itself, with nearly 15 of these deaths taking place between 2000 and 2022. Since changes to the course were introduced in 2012, there have been five deaths as a result of racing in the iconic steeplechase.
However, across the whole event, 62 horses have died since 2000.
This year's Grand National Festival has already seen three deaths: Envoye Special on the first day of the festival, Dark Raven on the final race day along with Hill Sixteen, who fell at the first hurdle of the main race and suffered an "unrecoverable" injury.
Last year's race week saw four horses - Eclair Surf, Discorama, Solwara One and Elle Est Belle - die, with two of those coming in the main event. Eclair Surf died as a result of a traumatic head injury caused by a fall at the third fence in the National, losing his fight the following morning despite being cared for by first-class vets. Meanwhile, Discorama, who fell at the 13th fence, also died after suffering an "untreatable" pelvic injury.
The number of deaths at the main race each year since 2000 is as follows:
- 2023 - 3
- 2022 - 2
- 2021 - 1
- 2020 - N/A
- 2019 - 1
- 2018 - 0
- 2017 - 0
- 2016 - 0
- 2015 - 0
- 2014 - 0
- 2013 - 0
- 2012 - 2
- 2011 - 2
- 2010 - 0
- 2009 - 1
- 2008 - 1
- 2007 - 1
- 2006 - 1
- 2005 - 0
- 2004 - 0
- 2003 - 1
- 2002 - 2
- 2001 - 0
- 2000 - 0
Call for new safety measures
Following last year's fatalities, Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Enough is enough. Animal welfare should be at the heart of horse racing and much tighter safety measures need to be implemented – the first step is to create a new independent regulatory body which focuses purely on the welfare of the horses.
"The use of the whip in the sport should be banned as it is forcing horses to go beyond what they are able to cope with and results in stress, injuries and deaths. The lives of horses are being sacrificed for ‘entertainment’ and gambling.”
Animal Aid’s horse racing campaigner Jade Emery called for the event to be banned, adding: "If a horse’s life is worthless to the racing industry, as we have seen every year at the Grand National meeting, then the industry itself is devoid of morals. It’s time to challenge the acceptance of this race meeting, and the associated deaths, and see it banned from taking place."
What is the reason for these deaths and what has been done to protect horses?
The Aintree race features 30 jumps but fences such as The Chair, Becher’s Brook, and Canal Turn have notoriously caused problems for runners over the years. However, safety improvements have recently been made.
Changes introduced since 2012 include adapting and rebuilding the fences, facilities and stables, with the The Jockey Club's website stating: "From the very moment a horse arrives at Aintree the most important thing to the racecourse is its safety and welfare."
The health of each horse is assessed before the Grand National by the veterinary team at Aintree and made sure they are safe to race and are not a danger to themselves or will endanger other horses. New approaches and bypass areas to fences have also been added, to make the approach of each fence safer, while horses are also kept in secure stables.
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