5 Horses Died at This Year’s Grand National Festival. Here’s How Social Media Reacted
This year’s three-day Grand National horse racing event claimed five horses’ lives, making it the deadliest in five years.
During the various races held at the Aintree track, Marasonnien, Clonbanan, Gullinbursti and Minella Reception all suffered fatal injuries while being forced to run at breakneck speeds and jump over notoriously difficult fences. After the event was over, it emerged that King’s Palace also ended up being put down after being pulled up lame in the National Handicap Hurdle. This senseless loss of life comes just a few weeks after seven horses died at the Cheltenham Festival.
Horse racing is deadly for animals – and in the past few years, there’s been a huge increase in public awareness of just how unethical this so-called ‘sport’ really is. 47 horses have died in the Grand National Festival since 2000. As a result, more and more people are choosing to boycott the Grand National, reject office sweepstakes and speak out on social media.
Here are just a few reactions to the bloodshed that’s taken place over the past few days.
When I get asked if I'm participating in the Grand National Sweepstake at work.#YouBetTheyDie pic.twitter.com/kIr8isC7dG
— Sarah Cordock (@SarahCordock) April 9, 2016
How many horses are needlessly going to die this year? #GrandNational #YouBetTheyDie
— Denise Connolly (@DeniseAConnolly) April 9, 2016
With two horses already killed at the Grand National this year, it's time to ban this cruel spectacle #YouBetTheyDie
— Cllr Ben Miskell (@benmiskell) April 9, 2016
Is a horses life really worth a few minutes entertainment and the chance to win a fiver? #YouBetTheyDie #GrandNational
— Immie (@Icxpeland) April 9, 2016
'The Grand National is the most selfish form of animal cruelty' #evil #grandnational #youbettheydie pic.twitter.com/Sgul7HmCfl
— Becci (@beckarella) April 9, 2016
PLEASE don't put any money on the National, you are funding animal cruelty. There are no such things as 'harmless flutters'. #YouBetTheyDie
— Ingrid Ⓥ (@sookisoo) April 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/EmmaHopkinss/status/718814365651243008
https://twitter.com/Downes_Bro/status/718837570495516675
A sketch by me: 'All The Horses Who Have Died At The #GrandNational Steeplechase (So Far)' #stopit @PETAUK pic.twitter.com/t3TPVuUs5U
— Richard Fry O Starry Night (@ExChildGenius) April 9, 2016
It's getting near to that time and I feel really stressed. Please let them all get round ok. #Aintree #YouBetTheyDie I wont be watching!
— Annie Walker #VoteLabour (@Thunderoad75) April 9, 2016
Will not be betting on the @grandnational this year for the first time since i can remember because of the research and morality @PETAUK
— Danielle McMahon (@CLASSICFOX) April 9, 2016
Please join the conversation by tweeting your reaction to the horse deaths at the Grand National with the hashtag #YouBetTheyDie. And help hasten the end of this exploitative industry by encouraging your friends and family not to watch or gamble on animals’ lives.
