Editing Grand National (section)

==Horse welfare==
===Statistics===
The Grand National has been described by the [[BBC]] as higher risk than lots of other horse races.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who, what, why: How dangerous is the Grand National? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13034474 |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=BBC |date=2011-04-11}}</ref> According to the British Horseracing Authority, as of 2022, the five-year average fatality rate for jump racing was 0.43%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Making Horseracing Safer |url=https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/making-horseracing-safer/ |website=British Horseracing Authority |access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> However, the rate for the Grand National over the last ten runnings was more than twice as high, at 1.12%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Greg |title=This Grand National was an unsettling spectacle for many inside racing's bubble |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/16/animal-rising-grand-national-protest-british-horseracing-authority |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=16 April 2023}}</ref>

=== History of fatalities ===
{{main|List of equine fatalities in the Grand National}}
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Grand National saw a total of 12 horses die (half of which were at Becher's Brook); in the next 20-year period from 1990 to 2010, when modifications to the course were most significant, there were 17 equine fatalities. The [[2011 Grand National|2011]] and [[2012 Grand National|2012 race]]s each yielded two deaths, including one each at Becher's Brook.  In 2013, when further changes were made to introduce a more flexible fence structure, there were no fatalities in the race itself although two horses died in run-up races over the same course.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/grand-national/9974805/Grand-National-2013-Little-Josh-becomes-second-horse-to-die-over-the-big-Aintree-fences.html|title=Grand National 2013: Little Josh becomes second horse to die over the big Aintree fences|newspaper=Telegraph|access-date=8 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515064624/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/grand-national/9974805/Grand-National-2013-Little-Josh-becomes-second-horse-to-die-over-the-big-Aintree-fences.html|archive-date=15 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="league1">{{cite web |url=http://www.league.org.uk/news-and-opinion/press-releases/2014/apr/injury-and-fatalities-are-inevitable-during-grand-national-meet |title=Charity warns that until horse welfare is put first, injury and fatalities are inevitable during Grand National meet – League Against Cruel Sports |publisher=League.org.uk |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=8 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408212451/http://www.league.org.uk/news-and-opinion/press-releases/2014/apr/injury-and-fatalities-are-inevitable-during-grand-national-meet |archive-date=8 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/26128471 |title=BBC Sport – Grand National 2014: Tidal Bay tops Aintree weights |work=BBC News |date=11 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305160408/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/26128471 |archive-date=5 March 2014 }}</ref> The animal welfare charity [[League Against Cruel Sports]] counts the number of horse deaths over the three-day meeting from the year 2000 to 2013 at 40.<ref name="league1"/> 

There were no equine fatalities in the main Grand National race for seven years until 2019,<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2014 Grand National |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/2014-grand-national/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=5 August 2018 |date=5 April 2014}}</ref> when one horse died at the first fence.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ostlere |first=Lawrence |date=6 April 2019 |title=Grand National 2019: Willie Mullins' Up For Review dies after falling at first hurdle |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/grand-national-2019-result-horse-dies-up-for-review-fall-first-hurdle-aintree-a8858181.html%3famp |access-date=6 April 2019 |website=The Independent}}</ref> In 2021, one horse was euthanised after the race after suffering an injury on a flat section between fences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/horse-put-down-grand-national-b1829620.html |title=The Long Mile put down after Grand National 2021 |date=10 April 2021 |access-date=1 September 2021 |website=The Independent}}</ref> Two more were euthanised after suffering injuries in the 2022 event. One of the incidents came at fence 3, the other on the gallop between fences 12 and 13.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Greg |title=Eclair Surf becomes second horse to die after Grand National on Saturday |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/apr/10/eclair-surf-becomes-second-horse-to-die-after-grand-national |access-date=10 April 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=10 April 2022}}</ref> There was one fatality in 2023, following a fall at the first fence, and two other horses taken away by ambulance.<ref> {{cite news |title=Grand National: 118 people arrested over protests that delayed start of Aintree race |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/65285510 |website=BBC News |date=15 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref>
<ref> {{cite news |title=Grand National puts up defiant, united front in the face of animal rights protestors |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/racing/2023/04/15/grand-national-arrest-protests-animal-rising-latest-police/ |website=The Telegraph |date=15 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023}}</ref> The involvement of animal rights protesters was questioned after the race. Sandy Thompson, trainer of the fatally injured Hill Sixteen, claimed along with several other racing personalities that the protesters had (directly or indirectly) caused the death of the gelding and were equally responsible for the number of fallers, because the delay they caused to the start, after storming the course close to post time, got the horses worked up and "hyper".<ref name="auto">{{cite news |title='I stroked his neck. I thanked him. I said sorry' |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/65309466 |access-date=29 April 2023}}</ref> The protesters have denied these comments, saying they had every right to break and enter and trespass onto racecourse ground and stage a protest despite officials' orders not to.<ref name="auto"/>

===Organiser changes===
Over the years, Aintree officials have worked in conjunction with animal welfare organisations to reduce the severity of some fences and to improve veterinary facilities. In 2008, a new veterinary surgery was constructed in the stable yard which has two large treatment boxes, an X-ray unit, video endoscopy, equine solarium, and sandpit facilities. Further changes in set-up and procedure allow vets to treat horses more rapidly and in better surroundings. Those requiring more specialist care can be transported by specialist horse ambulances, under police escort, to the nearby Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital at the [[University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science|University of Liverpool at Leahurst]]. A mobile on-course X-ray machine assists in the prompt diagnosis of leg injuries when horses are pulled up, and oxygen and water are available by the final fence and finishing post.<ref name=horsewelfare>[http://www.aintree.co.uk/pages/horse-welfare/ Horse Welfare] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414054040/http://www.aintree.co.uk/pages/horse-welfare/ |date=14 April 2012 }}. Aintree.co.uk. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.</ref><ref name="aintree-grand-national.net">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100723015953/http://www.aintree-grand-national.net/aintree-racecourse.php Aintree Racecourse – Grand National Fences]}}. Aintree-grand-national.net. Retrieved on 11 March 2011.</ref><ref name=telegraphwelfare>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/7572951/Grand-National-2010-Aintree-takes-lead-in-horse-welfare-Horse-Racing.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Jonathan | last=Liew | title=Grand National 2010: Aintree takes lead in horse welfare | date=9 April 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613185924/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/7572951/Grand-National-2010-Aintree-takes-lead-in-horse-welfare-Horse-Racing.html | archive-date=13 June 2017 }}</ref> Five vets remain mobile on the course during the running of the race and can initiate treatment of injured fallers at the fence. Additional vets are stationed at the pull-up area, finishing post, and in the surgery.<ref name=telegraphwelfare/>

Some of the National's most challenging fences have also been modified, while still preserving them as formidable obstacles. After the [[1989 Grand National]], in which two horses died in incidents at [[Becher's Brook]], Aintree began the most significant of its modifications to the course. The brook on the landing side of Becher's was filled in and, after the 2011 race which also saw an equine fatality at the obstacle, the incline on the landing side was levelled out and the drop on was reduced by between 4 and 5 inches (10–13&nbsp;cm) to slow the runners. Other fences have also been reduced in height over the years, and the entry requirements for the race have been made stricter. Screening at the [[Canal Turn]] now prevents horses from being able to see the sharp left turn and encourages jockeys to spread out along the fence, rather than take the tight left-side route. Additionally, work has been carried out to smooth the core post infrastructure of the fences with protective padding to reduce impact upon contact,<ref name=horsewelfare/> and the height of the toe-boards on all fences has been increased to {{convert|14|in|cm}}. These orange-coloured boards are positioned at the base of each fence and provide a clear ground line to assist horses in determining the base of the fence.

Parts of the course were widened in 2009 to allow runners to bypass fences if required. This was utilised for the first time during the 2011 race as casualties at fences 4 and 6 (Becher's Brook) resulted in marshals diverting the remaining contenders around those fences on the final lap.

Some within the horseracing community, including those with notable achievements in the Grand National such as [[Ginger McCain]] and [[Bob Champion]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/9453497.stm |title=BBC Sport – Horse Racing – Grand National: Ginger McCain queries smaller fences |work=BBC News |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16209064 |title=Grand National: Neptune Collonge Honoured After Horses Die Following Aintree Race &#124; UK News &#124; Sky News |publisher=News.sky.com |access-date=23 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419080107/http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16209064 |archive-date=19 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17735723 |title=BBC Sport – According to Pete trainer wants bigger Grand National fences |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=23 April 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420045140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/17735723 |archive-date=20 April 2012 }}</ref> have argued that the lowering of fences and the narrowing of ditches, primarily designed to increase horse safety, has made matters worse by encouraging the runners to race faster. 

After the 2023 race, the Jockey Club announced several major changes to the event for 2024, recognising "the need for more substantial updates on several key areas in order to better protect the welfare of racehorses and jockeys".<ref>{{cite web |title=THE JOCKEY CLUB ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL AS PART OF RELENTLESS FOCUS ON HORSE WELFARE |url=https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/2023/10/the-jockey-club-announces-changes-to-the-randox-grand-national-as-part-of-relentless-focus-on-horse-welfare/#_edn1 |website=The Jockey Club |access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref> This included a reduction in the size of the field for the first time, from 40 to 34 (long called for by welfare campaigners such as the [[RSPCA]]),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Chris |title=RSPCA urges officials to consider cutting numbers in Grand National field |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/apr/08/rspca-want-officials-look-reduction-grand-national-field-size-horse-racing |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=8 April 2019}}</ref> as well as infrastructure changes such as moving fences to slow the speed of the race at the start, and further development of pre-race veterinary protocols.