A third horse has died at the Grand National Festival, this time in the main showpiece race. Hill Sixteen fell at the first fence on Saturday evening and suffered what has been described as an "unrecoverable" injury, and was put down. The 80/1 runner was being ridden by Ryan Mania and was trained by Sandy Thomson.
A Jockey Club spokesperson said: "Sadly, while racing in the Grand National, Hill Sixteen sustained an unrecoverable injury. Our sincere sympathies are with connections. Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman were assessed on course by our skilled veterinary staff and walked onto the horse ambulance for further assessment in the stables."
In pictures: The protesters who delayed the start of the Grand National
The showpiece race was delayed by 15 minutes as animal rights activists gained entry to the racecourse. Seventeen of the 39 horses who started made it to the finishing line.
The death toll at the Aintree Festival has now reached 62 horses since the year 2000.
Hill Sixteen's death comes after the deaths of Envoye Special and Dark Raven during this year's three-day horse racing festival at Aintree.
Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has called for more stringent safety measures in horse racing.
Emma Judd, head of campaigns and communications, said: “The death of Hill Sixteen today at today’s Randox Grand National reflects its shocking safety record – 16 horses have now died in the race since the year 2000. It cannot be more apparent that it is time for change and for the introduction of tighter safety measures in the Grand National, at the Aintree racecourse and at racecourses across the UK.”
The death of Hill Sixteen in the Grand National this year follows the deaths of Discorama and Éclair Surf last year.
Judd added: “One death is too many. Animal welfare needs to be put before gambling profits and entertainment, and steps need to be taken to end this carnage which is occurring year after year. A new independent regulatory body is required which has horse welfare as its number one priority. The use of the whip, which pushes horses beyond what they can safely do, should be banned.”
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