Gold Dancer was put down after suffering a broken back during his win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase on day two of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree on Friday.
The seven-year-old dragged his back legs through the final fence and landed awkwardly but was ridden out to win by jockey Paul Townend, who whipped the horse after his fall.
Gold Dancer was immediately pulled up after winning the race and Townend dismounted before screens were put up for veterinary experts to treat the horse.
However, it was announced shortly after the race that Gold Dancer ‘could not be saved’.
Eddie O’Leary of Gold Dancer’s owners Gigginstown said: ‘He’s been put down. He broke his back. It’s terribly sad for the horse.
‘What could Paul Townend do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong.’
Emma Slawinski, the chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: ‘Year after year we see horses dying at Aintree for people’s entertainment and a cheap bet. Sadly, Gold Dancer is the latest victim of this heartless spectacle, which flies in the face of animal welfare.
‘The public and businesses should boycott the Aintree Festival, refuse to bet on the racing, and stop watching the ITV coverage and advertising which glosses over the animal cruelty.
‘The government needs to act as the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club is prioritising gambling profits over the lives of the horses.’
Animal rights group Animal Aid issued a statement after Gold Dancer’s death which read: ‘The fact that the ‘winner’ of this race was dead minutes later proves that this so called “sport” has no winners. Injuries and deaths such as these are common in racing, occurring on average every other day across the country.
‘It’s no accident – it’s a predictable consequence of pushing horses beyond their physical limits and using a whip to bully them into running faster than they want to. Injury and death go hand in hand with racing, and that’s why Animal Aid is calling on the public to turn their backs on this “sport” and boycott horse racing.’
An Aintree Racecourse statement read: ‘The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.
‘He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.’
Last year, Willy De Houelle and Celebre D’Allen, died at Aintree.
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