Grand National: a course for action?

Thirty-three horses have died during, or in the aftermath of, the Grand National since 1973.

The Aintree course has introduced a range of modifications, including reducing the height of fences and stricter entry requirements for horses, but the rate of attrition has been higher in the past two decades than in the preceding 20 years.

The sixth fence, Becher’s Brook, is by far the most dangerous, accounting for nine deaths – or nearly 30 per cent of all fatalities over 40 years. Over the same period, another nine participating horses have had to be put down after the race.

The British Horseracing Authority told Channel 4 News it “disputes” Animal Aid’s figures because they say they are based on unrepresentative data.

The BHA says they are likely to be out by one or two deaths in total.