LIVERPOOL, England (AP) 鈥� A seven-year-old horse had to be euthanized Friday after breaking its back on the final fence of a Grand National steeplechase race that it won despite suffering the serious injury.
It follows the at the Cheltenham Festival in March 鈥� including one after the prestigious .
Gold Dancer was competing in the Mildmay Novices鈥� Chase during Ladies Day at Aintree鈥檚 Grand National Festival. The horse managed to cross the finish line approximately four lengths ahead of runner-up Regent鈥檚 Stroll.
鈥淭he winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted,” Aintree Racecourse said in a statement. 鈥淗e was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.鈥�
Jockey Paul Townend rode the gelding across the finish line and dismounted immediately once the horse pulled up beyond the winning post. Screens were put up around Gold Dancer as veterinary experts rushed to provide treatment.
Eddie O鈥橪eary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown, defended Townend’s actions for continuing to ride.
鈥淲hat could Paul Townend do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong,鈥� O’Leary said.
The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) later released details of a stewards鈥� report which appeared to clear Townend of any wrongdoing.
鈥淎fter reviewing the footage, the Director of Equine, Safety, and Welfare explained that Gold Dancer鈥檚 action was typical of a 3-mile chaser in the final stages of a race and supported the evidence of Townend,” part of the statement said.
Two other horses, Miami Magic and Jordans Cross, fell during the same contest but both returned safely to their stables.
At a horse that collapsed on the racecourse after running in the Grand National also died.
After the Cheltenham Festival deaths in March, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the four deaths took the number of horses to have lost their lives in competitive racing in Britain this year to 24.
There was more criticism after Friday’s Gold Dancer death.
鈥淵ear after year we see horses dying at Aintree for people鈥檚 entertainment and a cheap bet.鈥� Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, was quoted as saying by GB 海角社区app.
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