The Irish Grand National for example is run during early April too and horses cannot run in both races as they are too close together. Confirmed Grand National Runners. The maximum grand national field is 40 runners and riders and the full number of horses are likely to start the 2021 Grand National unless there are any late withdrawals. The Randox Grand National meeting will take place in its scheduled slot after Jockey Club Racecourses ruled out delaying the Aintree showpiece. Written by Timeform, 25 February 2021 View Grand National Weights Released: What the trainers say. The Aintree Grand National is an annual famous event in the world of horse racing. The venue of this competition is the UK, Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. More than 40 participants compete for the main trophy; competitions consist of three stages. 15 hours ago Westwood, after the weights for the Grand National were announced, previously made clear his goal was to run him in the Aintree race. He said at the time: 'To win the National.
Leading Irish horse trainer Gordon Elliott, 43, says the photo of him sat on a dead horse is authentic. Elliott says he took a phone call and sat down on the horse 'without thinking'.'I apologise profoundly for any offence that this photo has caused,' he says. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is 'appalled'.
Elliott has thrice trained the winner of the Grand National. The race yielded 7 fatalities out of 439 horses taking part between 2000 and 2010. In 1998, three horses died: two were injured in the race and then offed by the vet; one suffered a heart attack whilst jumping a fence. But the racing fraternity is aghast and agog and one man using a dead horse as an al fresco office.
'I can categorically state that the welfare of each and every horse under my care is paramount and has been central to the success that we have enjoyed,' says Elliott. 'The photo in question was taken some time ago and occurred after a horse had died of an apparent heart attack on the gallops. At what was a sad time, which it is when any horse under my care passes away, my initial reaction was to get the body removed from where it was positioned. I was standing over the horse waiting to help with the removal of the body, in the course of which, to my memory I received a call and, without thinking, I sat down to take it. Hearing a shout from one of my team, I gestured to wait until I was finished. Such background information may seem trivial at this time and will not allay the concerns of many people both within and outside the world of horse racing.'
He's right. It doesn't.
Image: An edited version of an image of Gordon Elliott released by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, via BBC, no copyright note.
Grand National Aintree England
Image: An edited version of an image of Gordon Elliott released by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, via BBC, no copyright note.
Grand National Aintree England
The Grand National
Posted: 1st, March 2021 | In: Key Posts, News, SportsComment | TrackBack | Permalink