Calls for stricter safety measures after the death of Solwara One at the Aintree Festival

Friday April 8, 2022

Chris Luffingham, director of external affairs at leading animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports, has called for stricter safety measures in horse racing following Solwara One being destroyed at the Aintree Festival today.

He said: “The tragic death of Solwara One today at Aintree is sadly not an isolated incident – it is the 56^th horse to be destroyed at the festival since the year 2000.

“The death toll at Aintree is simply appalling and an indictment of the shocking safety record of horse racing.

“The lives of the horses are being sacrificed for ‘entertainment’ and gambling while the horse racing industry allows animal welfare to take a back seat.

“It’s time for change with horse welfare becoming the number one priority and for safety measures in the sport to be strengthened – we are calling for a new independent regulatory body which focuses purely on the welfare of the horses.

“We will also be calling for the ban on the whip which forces horses to go beyond what they are comfortably able to do resulting in deaths, injuries and stress.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

See below for a link to a video highlighting the deaths of horses in the racing industry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADUzz8ZoYHw

See below for a link to the Animal Aid website which lists all the horses that have died at the Aintree festival since 2000.

https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/horse-racing/ban-the-grand-national/the-grand-national-meetings-horse-deaths/

For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 01483 524250 (24hrs) or email pressoffice@league.org.uk

The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004 and the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage sanctuaries to protect wildlife. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).