Grand National: Safety concerns over race resurface – but organizers insist changes have been made

An Aintree stadium boss has told Sky News horse racing is as risky as football or F1, with Saturday’s Grand National meeting facing fresh scrutiny despite efforts to make it safer.

Two horses die after falling from fence merseyside Track – Giovinco for the first race of the day and Pikar for the last race.

They are the first deaths this year Grand National Day The next day, four people died last year – including last year’s exhibition game.

Sulekha Varma, a staff member at Aintree Stadium, told Sky News: “I think we have to accept that there are risks in all sports, whether it’s equestrian or whether it’s Formula onewhether it’s football.

“No matter what sport you play, there is always a risk of injury – this is competitive sport.

“But as horse racing people we have a moral responsibility to do our best to minimize that risk.”

Asked about the risks in other sports that appear to have fewer deaths, Ms Varma pointed to athletes dying later in life.

“Look at the changes in concussions in rugby and soccer, look at heading the ball,” she said.

“There may not be injuries on the pitch but there are injuries further out and people are reacting to that.”

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The world’s toughest obstacle course has made more than a dozen changes after last year’s deaths sparked an outcry, with organizers insisting they had been planned.

2021 national champion Rachael Blackmore said risks can be mitigated but never eliminated.

“We have made some adjustments, all to protect the longevity of the race, and everyone is doing their best to make the race safer and eliminate risks,” said the first female jockey to win the race.

“If you look at the percentage of horses that die in races, they are very small.

“It’s just an unfortunate part of what we do. But I really hope some of these people can see how much we care and love these horses and how well taken care of they are.”

Last year, the start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes after animal welfare activists invaded the pitch.

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“Using animals for entertainment probably shouldn’t be something we should be doing in 2024,” Animals Rising’s Ben Newman told Sky News.

“These changes, while a testament to last year’s protests and the public focus on horse racing, will actually have no impact.

“You can’t make steeplechasing safe enough because it’s not a good thing for any horse to die on a racecourse for fun.”

But Aintree officials insist the changes are progress.

“We also want to retain a competitive and exciting event,” Ms Varma said.

“So there’s an element of protecting that and still having an exciting game but also seeing an opportunity to make things safer.”