Animal Rebellion vow to unleash summer amid Grand National disruption
Now Animal Rebellion vow to unleash a summer of chaos after eco-fanatics tried to disrupt the Grand National amid fears that Epsom Derby and Ascot could be next – as trainer blames protesters for his horse’s death after fall on Saturday
- Animal Rising said the demonstrations seen at Aintree were ‘just the beginning’
- More than 100 protesters were arrested at the Grand National on Saturday
Animal Rising has vowed to unleash a summer of chaos after the eco-group disrupted the Grand National during which a racehorse died after falling at the first fence.
The animal rights activists said the demonstrations seen at Aintree on Saturday, which saw 118 people arrested, were ‘just the beginning’ and ‘it’s all up from here’, leading to fears that the Epsom Derby and Ascot could be targeted next.
The group, formerly known as Animal Rebellion, has pledged to start a ‘national conversation’ around animal welfare concerns, after three horses died as a result of sustaining injuries at Aintree over the weekend.
Following a weekend of mayhem, the group tweeted: ‘This week has been just the beginning of Animal Rising, it’s all up from here.
‘This summer is going to be an unmissable opportunity to shine a spotlight on our treatment of animals, our relationship to nature and the world around us, and to start talking about how we can rebuild these relationships, creating a kind and safe world for all life.’
Activists attempted to disrupt the Grand National by getting into the racecourse and fixing themselves to fences and railings, causing the race to be delayed by 15 minutes
In a video released on Twitter, the group vowed to continue with their disruption, saying the Grand National is ‘just the start’
They also invited people to register to ‘hear more about our plans’ and get involved with their non-violent direct action.
Their next possible targets include the Derby on June 3, the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6 and the Royal Ascot from June 20 to June 24.
The group kicked off its ‘summer of Animal Rising’ by attempting to disrupt the Grand National by getting into the racecourse and fixing themselves to fences and railings, causing the race to be delayed by 15 minutes.
When the race did start, the horse Hill Sixteen died after a fatal fall at the first fence and was put down after suffering a broken neck.
Trainer Sandy Thomson (pictured) has blasted protesters for his horse Hill Sixteen’s death after a fatal fall on Saturday
A protester being detained as activists tried to disrupt the Grand National by getting into the racecourse and fixing themselves to fences and railings, causing the race to be delayed by 15 minutes.
The horse’s trainer, Sandy Thomson, has blasted ‘ignorant’ protesters for Hill Sixteen’s death after the 15-minute delay left horses sweating and agitated in the sun.
Sandy Thomson said that the ‘delay to the race definitely contributed hugely to what happened at the first two fences’.
READ MORE: Will the Derby be next? Fears animal rights protesters who tried to halt Grand National will now target Epsom – while courts are told to ‘throw the book’ at ‘ignorant anarchists’ as 118 people arrested at Aintree are bailed by police
The Scottish handler said that there were more falls at the first two fences than in previous years because ‘everybody got very uptight and very unsettled’ due to the delay caused by ‘so-called animal lovers’.
Sandy Thomson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘If we look at the last nine years since the course has been modified, there’s been an average of under two fallers at the first two fences and this year everybody got very uptight about it – horses, jockeys, starters – and there were eight fallers at those first two fences.
‘This was all caused by these so-called animal lovers who actually are ignorant and have absolutely no idea about welfare of horses.’
Speaking about how the sport could become safer, Mr Thomson said: ‘Two of the considerations – a shorter run to the first fence and a few less horses – those are obvious things that may be considered.
‘There have been huge changes in the whip rule, which has made a huge effect – last year’s winner would have been disqualified under the new rules, so we as a sport are continually moving forward and trying to make the sport safer.
‘The figures of people watching are surely a huge indication of where public perception is about the Grand National.’
Following the death of Hill Sixteen, Animal Rising cited the deaths of more than 49 horses who have died in the UK in horse racing events so far this year alone.
They said: ‘We didn’t cause those deaths and we haven’t caused any today.’
Meanwhile RSPCA policy director Emma Slawinski has called for the Grand National to make changes to ensure the safety of the horses, including having fewer on the field and prohibiting the use of whips.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘One of the things we particularly see at the Grand National is a very big field, so lots of horses running together.
More than 100 protesters were arrested at the Grand National on Saturday
The group released a video in which they vowed to continue with their action to stop the exploitation of animals
‘That, of course, causes issues when horses fall and can get in the way of other horses, and cause accidents in that way.
‘The other thing that we think needs to change very urgently is to see an end of the use of the whip for encouragement – hitting the horses to make them run faster.
‘We know that that actually causes more accidents, it makes accidents more likely, makes injuries more likely, so we’d like to see that reform happen as well.’
Animal Rising has been contacted for further comment.
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