The RSPCA has called on racing authorities to conduct an “urgent” review into the horse deaths that occurred at this year’s Grand National.
The Aintree race meeting concluded yesterday, Saturday April 15, with favourite Corach Rambler claiming victory in the world famous steeplechase. Three horses were confirmed to have died over the three days of racing, with the animal welfare organisation the RSCPA now calling on the British Horseracing Authority to review “the circumstances of each of the sad deaths at Aintree.”
Hill Sixteen suffered a heavy fall at the first fence in the Grand National and was subsequently put down after sustaining a broken neck. The horse was the third to die after both Dark Raven and Envoye Special suffered fatal injuries earlier in the meeting.
READ MORE: 70 best pictures and top outfits from all three days at Aintree Grand National
The one horse death in delayed running of the 5.15 Grand National came around 30 minutes after animal rights protestors attempted to make their way on to the course to disrupt the event. Merseyside Police confirmed that a total of 118 people, including three arrested earlier in the morning before racing, had been arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including causing public nuisance and criminal damages.
Responding to the horse deaths at this year’s festival, the RSPCA for England and Wales released a short statement on Twitter this morning, Sunday April 16. It said: “We urgently call on the British Horseracing Authority to review the circumstances of each of the sad deaths at Aintree, so that we never again exit a ‘festival of racing’ with three dead horses.”
Animal rights campaigners Animal Aid Animal Aid has also called for jump racing to be banned in the wake of the horse deaths this year.
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