All 39 horses come back safely from main event, but four dead overall at famous Aintree meeting

Although the 39 horses who started under orders in the 2016 Aintree Grand National steeplechase all reportedly came back safely, that cannot be said for the four horses who were killed overall at the three day event. The Sporting Life reports: The Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World led home 16 finishers in the world's most…

Second horse dies at Grand National meeting at Aintree, England

A horse owned by Albion chairman Tony Bloom has died following a fall at a high-profile race meeting. The Bloom-owned Little Josh fell at the fourth from last hurdle at Aintree, unseating rider Sam Twiston-Davies, who was wearing the Albion-inspired blue and white colours. The horse limped on but broke a shoulder in the fall…

Organizers make changes to Grand National course after horse deaths

The fact that organizers of the Grand National, heralded as the most famous and testing steeplechase in the world, are making changes to enhance safety for the horses who compete is in itself welcome news. However, the most critical change in our opinion, the one that would have the most impact for good -- is…

BHA surprised by RSPCA Grand National attack and so are we

There are a lot of articles on this issue, but we will go with The Guardian's coverage. The British Horseracing Authority said on Wednesday it would not be drawn into "any knee-jerk reactions or decisions" following a call by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Becher's Brook, steeplechasing's most famous…

Grand National: Plotting the best course to safer racing

Grand National. Safer racing. Can it be done? Yes, but careful study needs to be done before any changes are made. Injury and fatality free racing. Can that be done? In the digital world perhaps, but not in live racing. In an article for BBC Sport Frank Keogh spoke with three former National Hunt jockeys,…

Grand National: According to Pete owner will not return

Cross-posted from BBC News 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…

BHA will not be rushed into more Grand National course changes following Saturday’s fatalities

LAST UPDATED 7:38 PM Cross-posted from The Guardian Paul Bittar, the chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said on Sunday that racing should not rush into fresh changes to the Grand National in the aftermath of Saturday's race, in which two horses, including Synchronised, the Gold Cup winner, suffered fatal injuries. A number of…

Synchronised and According to Pete killed in the Grand National

Last update 8:33 pm The Daily Telegraph reports: It is the second time in two years that two horses have died in the Grand National. The deaths will reignite the controversy surrounding the sport. Millions of television viewers saw Gold Cup winner Synchronised and According to Pete fall at the sixth fence – Becher’s Brook.…

Tragedy and insensitivity overshadow Grand National as two horses die

LIVERPOOL, England (April 10, 2011) -- Two horses who die at Aintree in front of thousands of spectators and a worldwide television audience of 600 million watching the 2011 Grand National are ignored by insensitive BBC commentators calling the race. The fatalities occurred during the first circuit when Ornais fell at the fourth breaking his…