Two horses lost their lives in the 2012 Grand National putting serious doubt on the measures that have been put in place since the previous year’s race, in which 2 horses died also. In a sport that has seen so much criticism for its fatalities, the news comes as further indication that it is still not doing enough to safeguard the lives of its participants.
In 1994 both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger tragically lost their lives during the course of the San Marino Grand Prix weekend. Following that weekend a series of changes were brought into play to safeguard the lives of racers going forward and as a result there has not been a single fatality since.
It is for this and many other reasons that it is so ludicrous for two horses to have died in 2011 and for another two horses to die again in 2012. Though jumps have been changed since last year, it is clear that they have not been changed enough to ensure that the years can turn without horses dying on the Aintree racecourse.
With no clear indication of significant or long lasting plans to stop the tide of horses losing their lives from either the racecourse, the British Horse Racing Authority or The Jockey Club at the time of writing, maybe it’s time for the government to step in to set down stipulations to reduce the potential for horse fatalities.
In a statement from the Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the British Horseracing Authority, Professor Tim Morris said:
“We are very sad about the fatal injuries suffered by Synchronised and According to Pete in the Grand National.
“In both cases the horse incurred a fracture to the leg and the humane option was to put the injured horses down.
“The Grand National undoubtedly represents a challenge to both horse and rider. It has inherent risks, but, working closely with Aintree and other stakeholders, we do all we can to minimise these risks while maintaining the unique character of the race. We will examine closely the circumstances which led to both incidents.
“The key data from these accidents will be collated, as is the BHA’s policy in the event of any serious equine injury. Each year the BHA and Aintree review all incidents which occur during the Grand National meeting and consider what measures can be taken to address the risk of a repeat in the future.
“The BHA takes its responsibility of looking after the welfare of horse and rider very seriously. We consult and work with recognised welfare organisations such as the RSPCA, SSPCA and World Horse Welfare. It is our stated objective to continue to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities which occur in racing.”
However, if the “unique character of the race” entails “inherent risks” then it seems clear that the objectives stand in complete contrast to each other where horse fatalities are concerned. It is this conflict of interests that points in the direction of external reviews.
2013/14 updates:
While 2011 and 2012 were clearly bad years for the Aintree steeplechase, the Grand National ran a little more smoothly in both 2013 and 2014. There were zero fatalities recorded in both years and all of the horses made it back to the stables. Two horses fell in 2013, making it one of the better years for horse stability in recent history.
However, there were a total of eight falls in 2014, with a further six horses unseating their riders. Hopefully it’s not an indication that the safety of horses has gone backwards since 2013, but it definitely shows that this needs to be an ongoing concern for all concerned to ensure that a successful year for the bookies, jockeys and owners also translates into a successful year for the horses.
