Horse put down after third race fall in UK's biggest racing meet
It is the second equine death this year at Britain's biggest racing meeting following the death of Envoye Special on day one. Runner Dark Raven fell during the Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle, just a few hours before the Grand National itself. The horse's jockey Paul Townend is receiving treatment for his elbow.
Animal welfare campaigners have criticised the meeting for the number of horse deaths. Since 2000, 61 horses have died at the Aintree Festival, 15 in the Grand National.Four died at last year's Aintree Festival, two in the Grand National. Three people have been arrested in connection with coordinated protests at this year's Aintree Festival, in Liverpool.
Emma Judd, head of campaigns and communications at the League Against Cruel Sports, told WalesOnline: "The tragic death of Dark Raven at the Randox Grand National Festival today – the second death in only three days – shows entertainment and gambling taking precedence over animal welfare and the lives of these horses. It’s time for change and for the introduction of tighter safety measures at Aintree and at racecourses across the UK.
“One death is too many but this second death simply adds to the bleak death toll at this so-called festival in the last 23 years. We’re calling for a new independent regulatory body that bans the whip which pushes horses beyond what they can safely do, and has horse welfare as its number one priority.”
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