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Nine arrested as animal rights protestors delayed start of Grand National
Saturday 15 April 2023 17:11, UK
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Animal Rising activists attempting to invade the race course ahead of the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase
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Animal Rising activists attempting to invade the race course
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Nine people have been arrested at Aintree after breaching the racecourse track, which delayed the start of the Grand National for 12 minutes.
The race started at 5.27pm after around 15 Animal Rising demonstrators were reported to have been on the track, with at least two affixing themselves to a jump using glue and lock-on devices, according to the climate and animal rights group.
The protestors breached security fences to get onto the track, before some were arrested.
“Just after 5pm, a large number of protesters attempted to gain entry on to the course,” Merseyside Police said.
“The majority were prevented from breaching the boundary fencing, but the nine individuals who managed to enter the course were later arrested by officers.”
Animal Rising activists attempting to invade the race course ahead of the Randox Grand National Handicap Chase
When the race got under way it was Corach Rambler, ridden by Derek Fox and trained by Lucinda Russell that stormed to victory to win the race, which lasted around 10 minutes.
Student Sarah McCaffrey, who was one of those disrupting the track said: “I know everyone coming to Aintree to view the races today would say they love the horses; however, the suffering experienced by them should shock us all.
“That’s why I’ve decided to put my body between those horses and death on the racecourse, rather than gamble with their lives.”
Earlier, the animal rights group announced plans to prevent the steeplechase from starting, with up to 300 activists planning to scale fences and enter the track.
Police stand guard around the perimiter of the course. Pic: AP
Image:
Police stand guard around the perimeter of the racecourse. Pic: AP
It said: “We will be slow marching around the perimeter and at some point we may peacefully try to make our way towards the track, again to prevent this race from happening because we know horses are being harmed.”
Ahead of the Grand National race, three people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, including 25-year-old spokesperson Claudia Penna Rojas.
Read more:
Animal Rising protesters say they’ll try to stop Grand National
Opinion – ‘I loved the Grand National until I saw what I saw’
A man and a 33-year-old woman were detained in Greater Manchester on suspicion of the same offence.
The presence of protesters did not deter racegoers from attending the event as the first race got under way at 1.45pm.
Emma Simpson, from Eastham in Wirral, who was at Aintree to celebrate her 40th birthday, said: “There’s ways of having a protest and ways of doing that and having an impact on people without disrupting everybody else.”
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