• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
There Are Calls For Grand National To End After Only 15 Horses Finish And Two Die

Home> Football

Published 12:31 12 Apr 2022 GMT+1

There Are Calls For Grand National To End After Only 15 Horses Finish And Two Die

The deaths of two horses following the Grand National have sparked calls for the famous race to come to an end.

Cameron Frew

Cameron Frew

The deaths of two horses following the Grand National have sparked calls for the famous race to come to an end.

This year's Aintree festival saw 40 horses take to the start line for the main event, with 50-1 outsider Noble Yeats, ridden by jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, emerging victorious.

Image: PA
Image: PA

The race always becomes the subject of criticism, particularly from animal rights activists, who regularly call for the event to be banned.

Advert

A total of 40 horses raced in the Grand National, but only 15 finished. Eclair Surf was put down after suffering a heavy fall, while Discorama also died as a result of its injuries.

Emma Lavelle, who trained Eclair Surf, said: "We were optimistic when he left the track, but during the night he just got more and more wobbly and as he got more distressed it wasn’t the right thing to do to keep going.

"You kind of sit there and think of the ifs and buts and why nots, but you can't sit and think that.

"It’s a real gutter for everybody – his owners and the team. He was an exciting horse for the future, but what can you say?"

Advert

Across the weekend, another two horses died following other races at this year's meeting: Solwara One and Elle Est Belle.

This makes a total of 59 horses that have died at the Aintree Festival since 2000, and 15 that have died as a result of running the Grand National in the same time period, according to the League Against Cruel Sports.

Chris Luffingham, the animal welfare charity’s director of external affairs, said: "This death toll is simply unacceptable and a blight on the horse racing industry.

"We need new safety measures to prioritise horse welfare and to bring about an end to this sickening spectacle.

Advert

"We need a new independent, regulatory body which focuses purely on the welfare of the horse and ends the use of the whip and the cruelty and body count associated with the Grand National."

Image: PA
Image: PA

The RSPCA has also condemned the deaths, calling them 'heartbreaking' while backing calls for more extensive safety measures.


Advert

It said: "The death of any horse is always one too many so it is crucial that steps are taken to reduce the risk of such tragedies occurring."

The British Horseracing Authority, which has made a number of changes to make races safer for horses since 2012, has been urged to identify how deaths could be prevented in the future.

James Given, director of equine health and welfare, said: "We are all extremely saddened by the fatal injuries at the Grand National festival.

"Following a detailed review in 2011-12 the BHA and Aintree racecourse worked together to introduce a number of significant measures which have helped in the intervening years to reduce the injury rate at the Grand National meeting.

Advert

"However, welfare and safety is an ever‑evolving commitment and the BHA works constantly alongside our racecourses to further improve the sport’s safety record and reduce avoidable risk."

Featured Image Credit: Image: PA

Topics: Horse Racing

Cameron Frew
Cameron Frew

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Cheapest last-minute tickets revealed as countdown to this year's Grand National begins
  • Cheltenham punter wins life-changing sum off outrageous £5 bet even though only one of his horses won
  • Grand National runner banned from Aintree despite seeing 'horse therapist'
  • Supercomputer predicts Grand National winner with '95 per cent chance of winning'

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Ex-Chelsea wonderkid tipped to be 'football's next big thing' announces shock retirement from football

    The player made seven appearances for Chelsea and was once compared to Eden Hazard.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Alexander Isak 'cut price tag' revealed as Liverpool deal with Newcastle 'in play'

    The Newcastle United forward has attracted interest from several top clubs this summer.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the new Luka Modric for Real Madrid and it could be the signing of the summer

    The Real Madrid boss could be set to replace the veteran midfielder, who will leave the club later this summer.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Odds slashed on Lionel Messi's next club as clear favourite emerges after huge news drops on Inter Miami star's future

    Lionel Messi has been linked with a move away from Inter Miami.

    Football