Call for better regulation as more horses die at racing event

Two horses have died at the Scottish Grand National today – a week after two others were killed at Aintree.

Regal Heights and Minella Four Star collapsed at the end of the four mile event at Ayr.

It comes in the wake of last Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree – the highest profile event in the racing calendar – where two horses died after falling at fences.

Tonight, Animal Aid called for better regulation of such horse races.

Dene Stansall, horse racing consultant for the animal rights group said: “Regal Heights finished the race in ninth place then collapsed and died just past the line.

“Minella Four Star pulled up near the end of the race and was found to have internal bleeding.

“The Scottish Grand National is run over four miles, nearly as long the English Grand National which in racing terms are the longest races there are in the racing calendar.

“Horses can’t control their thermo dynamics like we can, they don’t lose heat easily like we do. This is a problem.

“To get two in one day at Ayr should ring alarm bells.

“Our main concern is it is very similar to the Grand National in Britain because of the long distance, a lot of fences and a lot of runners.

“There’s big prize money so everyone is going out to win. The demands on the race horses are probably too great, far greater than what they can cope with.

“The problem lies with the British Horseracing Authority who regulate the welfare of race horses.

“What we are saying is that they are not fit for purpose.

“It needs to be given to an independent body that understands horse racing and can focus on welfare. We would like to see the role of welfare taken out of their hands.”