Call for urgent review of Aintree horse deaths after Grand National protest

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The RSPCA has called on racing authorities to urgently review the deaths of three horses at the Grand National festival as campaigners said it was “just the beginning” of their direct action.

The world’s most famous steeplechase was delayed by 14 minutes when animal rights protesters stormed the track at Aintree on Saturday.

Merseyside police said 118 people had been arrested on suspicion of a range of offences including causing public nuisance and criminal damage.

The protest, in front of 70,000 spectators and a global television audience of millions, came moments before Hill Sixteen died after falling at the first fence of the 175th Grand National.

The 10-year-old gelding was the third horse to die at the three-day festival after Dark Raven and Envoye Special earlier in the annual meeting.

The RSPCA said it would “urgently call” on the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to review the circumstances of each of the deaths “so that we never again exit a ‘festival of racing’ with three dead horses”.

The charity has previously taken part in detailed reviews of the Grand National over concerns about the safety of the four-mile steeplechase.

But campaigners have called again for jump racing to be banned and “much more stringent” safety measures put in place for the sport after the deaths at Aintree, which Animal Aid called a “prolific killer of horses”.

Animal Rising, the group behind the Grand National protest, said “horrific, heartbreaking deaths” were the “inevitable consequence of exploiting these animals for entertainment – and it has to stop”.

More than 13,000 people had signed its petition to ban the world’s most famous steeplechase as it promised that Saturday’s direct action was “just the beginning”.

The charity Peta said 36 horses had died at the Grand National festival since 2010, while Animal Rising said more than 49 horses had died at UK horse racing events this year alone.

The BHA said it would analyse the Aintree races, as it does every year, to understand what caused the deaths.

The chief executive of the BHA, Julie Harrington, said the fatal injury rate in horse racing had fallen by more than a third in the last 20 years, to 0.2% of runners dying.

She added: “Our thoughts are with everyone connected to the horses who suffered fatal injuries this week. No one will be more affected by this news than the trainers, owners and stable staff who have provided these horses with first-class care and attention throughout their lives.

“British racing works tirelessly to improve the sport’s safety record and reduce avoidable risk. Every incident is reviewed by the BHA alongside the racecourse and other bodies. As a sport we have for years shown great determination and commitment to improve welfare standards by taking measured scientific, evidence-based, regulatory and education-based steps.”

The protests meant there was no pre-parade or national anthem and the race – which was due to start at 5.15pm – only started at 5.29pm. It was eventually won by the 8-1 favourite Corach Rambler.

Earlier in the day about 150 protesters from multiple animal rights organisations stood in front of Aintree’s gates, many of them holding placards such as “You bet, they die” and “Protect animals, cancel the Grand National” as spectators arrived.