The Grand National has been a sporting
institution in England since its genesis in 1839. The world famous race consists of two full
circuits of 3600 metres each (7200 metres in all) with 30 fences. It is a three day event which culminates with the
steeplechase race. The
steeplechase is considered to be the highlight of the three day event as
runners face a four and a half mile marathon often resulting in dramatic finishes
and attracting up to 600 million viewers world-wide. In April 2011, two horses were killed during the
steeplechase, a race which witnessed only nineteen of the forty starters
actually finish the race. In 2012 two more horses, (According to Pete and Synchronised),
were killed with only fifteen finishing the race. Animal
welfare groups have called for the Grand National to be banned. The British
Horseracing Authority (BHA), the regulatory body in Britain, has insisted that
the event will continue and have denied any breaches of equine welfare. Since 2000, twenty horses have lost their lives at
the Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.
As these most recent fatalities have been highly publicised in the British and world-wide media, the issue of
horse deaths and the corresponding animal welfare concerns has entered the
public conscience. While animal rights proponents, most notably Animal Aid,
have been most vociferous in their calls for the banning of the Grand
National, the response of the racing industry has been far more sanguine. The
BHA has defended the event and has expressed its continued commitment to
improving the facilities and safety procedures at its licensed racecourses.
This article will examine the recent responses by the horse racing industry
in Britain to the issue of race horse welfare at the Grand National. In order
to put the recent reforms in context, a brief examination of the regulation of
horse racing in Britain will be conducted.