The trainer of the horse that died in the Grand National race has blamed animal rights protesters for more deaths at the event.
Hill Sixteen, owned by Jimmy Fyffe, fell at the first fence on Saturday, suffering terminal injuries. The horse was one of a total of three that died across three days of racing at Aintree.
Trainer Sandy Thomson has said he is certain the disruption caused by protesters unsettled his horse. He defended the racing authorities for “continually moving forward to make the sport safer”, MirrorOnline reports.
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Mr Thomson said: “If we look at the last nine years since the course has been modified, there’s been an average of under two fallers at the first two fences. And this year everybody got very uptight – horses, jockeys, starters – and there were eight fallers at those first two fences.
"This was all caused by these so-called animal lovers who actually are ignorant and have absolutely no idea about the welfare of horses.
Police are still dealing with dozens of protesters who were arrested despite the de-arresting of around 40. Those held were men and women, aged between 18 and 66, who came from as far as Kent, Southampton, London, Essex, Swansea, Falkirk and Glasgow.
They were arrested on suspicion of offences that included conspiracy to cause public nuisance, obstructing highways and possession of controlled drugs.
Nathan McGovern, of Animal Rising, said: “In reality, Hill Sixteen’s death was entirely caused by the fact that horse racing has never and can never provide a safe place for these beautiful creatures to live their lives free from harm. The only way to have prevented their death would have been if they had never run the race in the first place.”
The RSPCA has called for an urgent review into the deaths. The animal welfare charity’s policy director, Emma Slawinski, wants fewer horses on the field and whips to be prohibited.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today show: “One of the things we particularly see at the Grand National is a very big field. That causes issues when horses fall and can get in the way of other horses, and cause accidents in that way.
“The other thing we think needs to change very urgently is to see an end to the use of the whip.”
Sir Brian May called for a debate in the House of Commons, calling Saturday “a black day” and praising the activists.
The Queen guitarist said: “I can only applaud their intent to stop something which is basically animal cruelty performed every year for the gain of a lot of people who are already rich. Why don’t we have a race where humans run the same course and we can all bet on them.”
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