Grand National: According to Pete owner will not return

Cross-posted from BBC News

According to Pete falls at his second attempt at Becher's Brook during the 2012 Grand National. He was put down later due to injuries. Photo: SCOTT HEPPELL / AP

The owner of a horse that was put down after falling at a fence in the Grand National at Aintree has said he will not enter horses in the race again.

Peter Nelson, who lives at Helperby, near Boroughbridge, in North Yorkshire, owned According to Pete, who fell at Becher’s Brook on the second circuit.

The horse suffered a fractured leg and was put down at the scene.*

Mr Nelson said horse racing would always carry risks but that he would not enter the National again.

Mr Nelson, who has a village garage and paper shop, said: “It’s terrible. He was a family pet, part of the family.

According To Pete ridden by Harry Haynes goes onto win The Peter Marsh Steeple Chase at Haydock Park.

“Everybody’s absolutely upset. We’ve had loads of people knocking on the door.

“We’ve had loads of telephone calls and flowers given and bottles of wine.

“But all of that doesn’t bring him back, does it?”

Mr Nelson said 11-year-old According to Pete was “in the prime of his life” and had recently run at Wetherby and Haydock.

“It was devastating. We’d had him since he was a foal. We’ve still got his mother.

“We had a stable at the back of the garage and a little paddock for him to run in.”

Talking about the race, Mr Nelson said:

“If he’d have done well we’d have been chuffed for him, but it’s a chance you take. You always think it’s going to be someone else’s horse.”

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* Reports vary on the fatal injury suffered by According to Peter. Some say he broke a leg, others his shoulder, and most recently that he broke his back.