British Horseracing Authority ‘robustly condemns’ Grand National protests
Protesters detained by police during the Grand National Festival
/ PA Wirehe British Horseracing Authority has “robustly condemned” protests by an animal rights group at the Grand National.
Police arrested 118 people after activists from Animal Rising stormed the track at Aintree and delayed the start of the race.
Three horses died during the three-day meeting, leading animal rights groups to criticise the event.
Sandy Thompson’s Hill Sixteen suffered a fatal fall at the first fence in the National – which was delayed by around 15 minutes after animal activists got on to the track – adding to the deaths of Dark Raven earlier in the afternoon and Envoye Special on Thursday.
In a statement, BHA chief executive officer Julie Harrington said: “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
“The BHA and Aintree racecourse will now analyse the races in painstaking detail, as is the case every year, to build on our existing data and help us understand what caused these incidents.”
Ms Harrington added that the fatal injury rate in the sport had reduced by over a third in the last 20 years, to 0.2 per cent of runners.
Reflecting on the protestors on the course, Harrington said: “We respect the right of anyone to hold views about our sport but we robustly condemn the reckless and potentially harmful actions of a handful of people in disrupting the race at a time when horses were in the parade ring.
“Those involved in British racing are rightly proud of our sport and the role it plays in providing an unparalleled quality of life for horses bred for racing. Love and respect for horses is at the heart of everything we do.”
Animal Rising claim that horse racing unnecessarily endangers the lives of horses.
Sarah McCaffrey, a shopworker and student - and one of those disrupting the track, said: “Whether it’s for food or for fun, our use of animals and nature is symbolic of a relationship beyond broken.
“We’re a nation of animal lovers, but the pain these beautiful creatures experience daily does not do that label justice. We need to find ways of loving animals that don’t hurt them.”