On the day that the drama and peril of the world’s most famous steeplechase appeared to occur in perfect synchronicity, two moments became permanently etched in the mind. Before sending 8-1 favorite Corach Rambler to victory in a Grand National that was even more blatantly chaotic than usual, Derek Fox rode Corach Rambler with unwavering composure. But also the extraordinary sight of dozens of animal rights activists using ladders to scale Aintree’s grounds in an attempt to not only sabotage the race but also the hearts and minds of those viewing.
The 175th National had virtually everything: sorrow, suffering, glory, and agony, for those who are on the fence about horse racing. But it was especially difficult to disregard the suffering, knowing that two more horses had perished on the biggest day of National Hunt racing, including Hill Sixteen after a horrific fall at the first hurdle.
Animal Rising, the direct action group that disrupted the race, must consider it a win. Saturday evening newscasts led with the arrests of 118 members for criminal damage and public annoyance. How long will it be before such demonstrations, along with office sweepstakes and pigsticker guides, become an annual Aintree tradition?
But for the millions who still cherish the National, there was much to beam about and be amazed by.
Lucinda Russell lost her father and One for Arthur, her 2017 Grand National winner, in recent months. She narrated the touching moment she scattered One For Arthur’s ashes near the finish line after Corach Rambler’s win.
Due to a shoulder injury, Derek Fox’s participation in this race was in doubt. However, his uninhibited demeanor brought pleasure. Not that you would have guessed it based on how he nursed Corach Rambler home before striking decisively. “He is everything you could want from a National horse,” he explained. “He’s just brilliant.”
There was also jubilation among the small syndicate of seven racing enthusiasts who had been handsomely compensated for their $2,400 investment with a check approaching $100,000 per person. Cameron Sword, a 21-year-old student, confessed he couldn’t believe his good fortune. “I’m in dreamland; I’m speechless.”
However, this was yet another Grand National where animal welfare concerns lurked and persisted. In some respects, this is not novel.
Noting that of the 192 horses that began the previous five Grand Nationals, only 36 completed the race and nine were killed, Johnson added, “The facts demonstrate that this type of race in its current form cannot be tolerated in the name of public decency.”
Fortunately, a lot has changed since then. The fences are more secure. The race is considerably less taxing. But by its very nature, National Hunt racing will always entail a risk of death. And because broader sensibilities are also shifting, one wonders if it will still be viable in two or three decades. Welfare concerns prevented over half of under-40s from attending horse races, according to York University research.
Nathan McGovern, a spokesperson for Animal Rising, told the Observer that the demonstration was the first of many planned for the summer and that other horse racing events, such as Royal Ascot, could also be targeted. “We are a nation of animal lovers, but we often tell ourselves convenient lies,” he remarked. However, the newer generation will no longer tolerate this.
