An animal welfare charity has called for tighter safety regulations to protect horses after Up For Review dies at Grand National: How many horses died at Aintree in 2019? in the 2019 Grand National.
The 25-1 shot became the first fatality in the race since 2012 after being brought down at the first fence.
It comes after Crucial Role, ridden by Harry Skelton, had to be put down after an accident during the Betway Mildmay Novices on Ladies Day, while Forest Des Aigles was injured later in the day in the Randox Health Topham Handicap Chase and 'had to be put down' after it broke its leg on the final jump of the chase.
And that has prompted the League Against Cruel Sports to issue a statement calling for changes to be made.
“Much has been made about the Grand National being made safer, yet we are again talking about the tragic death of a horse during the race," said Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports.
"This death shows starkly why the League has repeatedly called for tighter safety measures and the formation of an independent regulatory body with horse welfare at its heart.
Up For Review dies at Grand National: How many horses died at Aintree in 2019?
“The death toll at the Aintree festival has now reached three horses which is simply unacceptable.”
The statement from the charity comes after figures were released by the British Horseracing Authority that show the number of horse deaths on racecourses have reached a six-year high.
In 2018 alone, 201 horses lost their lives during competitive races, but the charity say just one death would be one death too many.
“National Hunt Racing is a hugely popular sport with the public, but this comes at a cost. We’ve all seen the hastily-erected screens around the fallen animals, and experienced the heartbreak that goes with it.
“With an average of nearly 200 horses dying on race tracks across Britain every year it’s clear that racing needs to give horse welfare the priority, especially for the racing calendar’s most arduous event, the Grand National.”
The Grand National was won by Tiger Roll, who made history by winning race for the second year running.
He is the first winner of back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum 45 years ago.
Grand National 2019 full results and which finishing places each-way bets pay out on
