Grand National: Trainer Sandy Thomson blames ‘ignorant’ protesters as BHA review Hill Sixteen’s death | Racing News

Sandy Thomson’s Hill Sixteen suffered a deadly fall on the first fence in yesterday’s Grand National; this got here after animal rights protesters entered the racecourse, resulting in a 15-minute delay to the race; a complete of 118 arrests had been made on the day

Trainer Sandy Thomson has blamed ‘ignorant’ animal rights protesters for the deadly fall of Hill Sixteen in yesterday’s Grand National.

The race was delayed by 15 minutes at Aintree after a number of protesters tried to enter the racecourse itself and repair themselves to fences and railing.

Merseyside Police confirmed on Sunday {that a} whole of 118 individuals had been arrested on April 15. Those arrested included women and men aged between 18 and 66 on suspicion on various offences together with conspiracy to trigger public nuisance, obstructing highways and possession of managed medicine.

Of these arrested, 65 had been taken into custody and are being processed and will probably be bailed.

The protests prompted a delay to the race, which was gained by Corach Rambler and jockey Derek Fox.

Hill Sixteen – skilled by Thomson – suffered a deadly fall on the first fence, with the Scottish handler describing the horse as “hyper” as a result of protests, resulting in the horse falling for the primary time in his profession.

“It’s not good,” Thomson told the Racing Post. “He received completely hyper and we washed him off. They have not a bloody clue what they’re doing.

“He simply hasn’t taken off on the first fence; he is received so bloody hyper due to the keep it up.

“Unfortunately, it is a statistic we’re all making an attempt to keep away from. He’s jumped spherical right here twice and by no means had a trouble. I do not know when he final fell.

“I know how ignorant these people are and they haven’t a bloody clue. They just cause more problems than they ever solve.”

Hill Sixteen was the third racehorse to die through the Grand National assembly, following the death of Dark Raven after racing earlier on Saturday afternoon and Envoye Special who died on Thursday, through the first day of the three-day pageant.

Roly Owers, the chief govt of charity World Horse Welfare, stated in an announcement: “Yesterday was a really unhappy day.

“From Aintree to tv screens the world over, this 12 months’s meet was troublesome to look at. The lack of Envoye Special, Dark Raven and Hill Sixteen is heart-breaking and we provide our condolences to their connections who we all know will probably be devastated.

“Whilst it’s true that accidents can occur anyplace – and the dangers can by no means be eliminated altogether – bounce racing poses particular dangers that it has a accountability to relentlessly cut back wherever attainable.

“It is evident to us that regardless of the adjustments made by Aintree and racing thus far, rather more must be finished.”

Hill Sixteen had accomplished on each runs over the National fences beforehand, together with when second within the 2021 Becher Chase.

Two additional horses concerned within the Grand National, Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman, had been taken onto the horse ambulance with updates anticipated right now.

Dickon White, north west regional director for the Jockey Club stated: “Hill Sixteen was instantly attended by skilled veterinary professionals through the Grand National, however sadly sustained a deadly harm. Our heartfelt condolences are together with his connections.

“Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman were assessed on course by veterinary teams. Both horses walked onto the horse ambulance for further assessment in the stables. Further updates will be provided in due course.”

More than 40 of the animal rights activists who tried to achieve entry to the Aintree Racecourse observe and delayed
the beginning of the Grand National have been de-arrested, the marketing campaign group Animal Rising stated.

BHA condemns protesters at Grand National

British Horseracing Authority chief govt Julie Harrington “robustly condemned” the protests which delayed the beginning of the Grand National, whereas asserting a “painstaking” evaluation will happen in an try to know what prompted three horse fatalities through the Aintree pageant.

Harrington stated: “Our ideas are with everybody linked to the horses who suffered deadly accidents this week. No one will probably be extra affected by this information than the trainers, homeowners and secure workers who’ve offered these horses with first-class care and a focus all through their lives.

“The BHA and Aintree racecourse will now analyse the races in painstaking element, as is the case yearly, to construct on our present information and assist us perceive what prompted these incidents.

“British racing works tirelessly to enhance the game’s security document and cut back avoidable danger. Every incident is reviewed by the BHA alongside the racecourse and different our bodies. As a sport, we have now for years proven nice dedication and dedication to enhance welfare requirements by taking measured scientific, evidence-based, regulatory and education-based steps.

“It is because of this that the deadly harm fee within the sport has lowered by over a 3rd within the final 20 years, to 0.2 per cent of runners.”

Reflecting on the protestors on the course, Harrington added: “We respect the suitable of anybody to carry views about our sport however we robustly condemn the reckless and doubtlessly dangerous actions of a handful of individuals in disrupting the race at a time when horses had been within the parade ring.

“Those concerned in British racing are rightly pleased with our sport and the function it performs in offering an unparalleled high quality of life for horses bred for racing. Love and respect for horses is on the coronary heart of the whole lot we do.

“The Grand National is and all the time will probably be an iconic sporting occasion and the actions of a small variety of individuals will do nothing to decrease its large and enduring worldwide enchantment.”

‘Taking motion to guard animals is extra essential than enterprise as standard’

Merseyside Police arrested 118 individuals on Saturday after scores of activists climbed fences, with no less than two fixing themselves to a bounce utilizing glue and lock-on units, in accordance with Animal Rising.

Animal Rising spokesperson Nathan McGovern stated in an announcement on Sunday: “The actions taken at Aintree yesterday aimed to forestall hurt from coming to horses within the Grand National, with Hill Sixteen sadly falling within the race itself – a death that may have been prevented if the race had not been run.

“Supporters of Animal Rising don’t take the chance of arrest frivolously, however taking motion to guard animals and nature is extra essential than upholding enterprise as standard.

“This is simply the beginning of many peaceable actions to actually create a nationwide dialog about our fractured reference to animals and our pure world this summer time, whether or not they lead to arrests or not.”

In an announcement, Peta UK stated infamous fences such as the Chair, Becher’s Brook and the Canal Turn trigger “horrific and sometimes deadly accidents” virtually yearly.

“Every time horses are pressured to leap over these excessively excessive obstacles, it places great strain on their slender entrance legs they usually danger damaged legs, necks and backs,” it added.

“Even those who make it off the track alive are likely to suffer. Thousands of horses – including ‘spent’ thoroughbreds and those who don’t ‘make the grade’ – are discarded like used betting slips every year.”

Student Sarah McCaffrey, who was a type of disrupting the observe stated: “I do know everybody coming to Aintree to view the races right now would say they love the horses; nevertheless, the struggling skilled by them ought to shock us all.

“That’s why I’ve determined to place my physique between these horses and death on the racecourse, reasonably than gamble with their lives.”