BHA chiefs will make inquiry into Up For Review’s death at Aintree

The BHA have said they will look in the circumstances surrounding the death of Up For Review in Saturday’s Grand National as they stood by the recent safety record of the Aintree track.

Up For Review, who suffered fatal injuries when brought down at the first fence, was the first horse to be killed in race since modifications to the famous fences were made ahead of the 2012 event.

BHA chief executive Nick Rust said: ‘It is obviously sad when we lose any horse, but it is important to note that the Grand National Festival, and the big race itself, have a very strong recent record since the measured changes implemented by the course and the BHA following the review in 2011.

The Grand National was marred by the tragic death of Up For Review on Saturday afternoon

‘As you would expect, and as is the case after every race run under the rules of British racing, we’ll look at the incidents that took place, gather information about them and build any relevant learnings into future regulatory policy.’ 

Three horses died at the Grand National meeting. It followed the Cheltenham Festival where three horses also died amid intense scrutiny on equine welfare following the deaths of seven horses in 2018 and a BHA welfare review.

David Sykes, the BHA’s Director of Equine Health and Welfare, added: ‘As a result of ongoing focus and investment in welfare by Aintree racecourse and the BHA, the safety record at the Grand National festival has improved significantly.

‘There had been no fatal injuries in the Grand National itself in the last six runnings of the race since 2012, and prior to this weekend there had been only one fatal injury at the entire Grand National meeting since 2016. In addition, the sport’s overall fatality rate has reduced by one third in the last 20 years, to 0.2 per cent of runners.’

Up For Review (circled) suffered fatal injuries when brought down at the first fence