A second horse has died at this year's Grand National. Dark Raven has been put down at Aintree Racecourse following his fall in the 3pm race.
He becomes the second horse to die at the festival this year. Simon Munir’s gelding fell in the Aintree Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, sustaining an injury that prompted on-course vets to take the decision to euthanize him.
Emma Judd, head of campaigns and communications at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The tragic death of Dark Raven at the Randox Grand National Festival today – the second death in only three days – shows entertainment and gambling taking precedence over animal welfare and the lives of these horses.
“It’s time for change and for the introduction of tighter safety measures at Aintree and at racecourses across the UK.”
The death toll at the Aintree Festival has now reached 61 horses since the year 2000, with 15 deaths in the Grand National.
Four horses died at the 2022 Aintree Festival, with two horses being destroyed after the Grand National.
It follows the death of Envoye Special on the first day of the festival.
