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The Grand National will reduce its field to 34 horses as part of a slew of significant changes, taking effect from next year, in an effort to make the world’s most famous steeplechase safer for horses and jockeys. Other changes include softening the fences by using foam and rubber toe boards, and moving the first fence closer to the start to stop horses building up too much speed. The race will also start earlier in the day, so the course stays as soft as possible, and the horses will set off from a standing start. The Grand National has had a field of 40 horses since 1984, which has often been cited — along with the size of the fences — as a key reason why 16 horses have died in the race since the turn of the century. "Racing is the same in that we have to evolve to ensure the future of the sport.”The 2024 Grand National takes place on April 13.

Persons: ”, Nevin Truesdale, Ruby Walsh, Walsh, ___ Organizations: Aintree, Jockey, British Horseracing Authority, Welfare, RSPCA, Rugby Locations: Britain

☆ Epsom Derby: Police make 19 arrests as animal rights protesters plan to disrupt one of UK's most prestigious horse races
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Jockey Club, which runs the Epsom racecourse, won a High Court injunction last month to stop animal rights protesters from disrupting the event. Animal Rising, an animal rights group, had planned to demonstrate at the Derby, calling on “as many animal lovers as possible to peacefully descend on Epsom” in a post on Twitter. The Jockey Club said it had offered Animal Rising an area near the entrance to protest. Animal Rising had said that it would protest at the event. According to animal rights organization PETA UK, 36 horses have died at the festival since 2010.

Persons: ”, Victoria Jones Organizations: CNN — Police, Epsom Derby, Epsom, Derby, Twitter, Surrey Police, CNN, Victoria Jones / Press Association, AP, Office, ” CNN, Home Office, National, PETA, Animal, British Horseracing Authority, Kentucky Derby Locations: Surrey, England, Epsom, “, Wales, Aintree, Liverpool, United Kingdom, United States, Churchill Downs

☆ Horse racing-BHA analysing horse deaths at Grand National, condemns protesters
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hill Sixteen was the third horse to die at this year's three-day festival after a heavy fall at the first fence of Saturday's National. Two other horses, Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman, were assessed by veterinary staff on the course. The start of the National, one of the highest-profile events in Britain's sporting calendar, was delayed for around 15 minutes after the protesters made their way on to the course. The protesters say the race is cruel to horses, with many having died over the daunting fences down the years. "The Grand National is and always will be an iconic sporting event and the actions of a small number of people will do nothing to diminish its huge and enduring international appeal."

☆ Protesters delay UK's Grand National horse race, 118 arrested
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - The start of the annual Grand National horse race was briefly delayed on Saturday after a large group of animal rights protesters forced their way into the Aintree grounds to disrupt one of the highest-profile sporting events in Britain. Police said they had arrested 118 people on suspicion of offences including criminal damage and causing public nuisance after protesters sought to scale the perimeter fence and access the track to prevent the 40 horses from starting the race. Officers were seen pinning some protesters in pink tops to the ground while others were pulled from ladders. "Just after 5pm a large number of protesters attempted to gain entry to the course," Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said. Animal rights protesters say the Grand National exploits animals for entertainment and can lead to the death of horses.

☆ Grand National: Animal rights group threatens iconic horse race
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —It’s watched by more than 500 million people from 140 different countries, but the Grand National remains one of the most controversial horse races in the world. However, animal rights groups claim the race represents the “broken relationship” between humans and nature due to the potential dangers the horses face. “This April we are launching the biggest campaign to protect animals and the climate this country has ever seen,” Animal Rising added. “Already over 500 people are signed up for training to take peaceful action this summer.”The Grand National race is part of a three day festival at Aintree Racecourse every year. Animal Rising says the report won’t stop them from finishing their mission of raising awareness of what they claim are unethical practices.

☆ The Most Unpredictable Horse Race in the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Victor Mather | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Because horses have so few opportunities to race over the larger fences, many of the horses in the field will have tried them perhaps only once before, or never. A horse who has been successful in ordinary steeplechases may turn out to be unable to deal with the higher fences. Unless entrants have raced in the National before, they will be trying such a long distance for the first time. In most horse races, it is not uncommon for many of the horses to have raced one another several times in recent months, giving a good sense of which ones are better than the others. Most of them race just a few times a season.

☆ British nurses launch historic strike, as pay and staffing crises threaten the NHS
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The reality is, every day, nurses across the UK are walking into understaffed hospitals,” Mackay said. “I feel really sorry for the young girls who are now trying to get into the profession, they have to pay for their training. Nurses’ pay dropped 1.2% every year between 2010 and 2017 once inflation was taken into account, according to the Health Foundation, a UK charity that campaigns for better health and health care. Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesEarlier this year, the RCN rejected an offer by the government to increase nurses’ pay by a minimum of £1,400 ($1,707) a year, which amounted to an average rise of 4.3%, well below the rate of inflation. Members of Britain’s armed forces were being trained to drive ambulances and firefight in the event of strike action, ministers said earlier this month.

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