Animal rights protestors have forced the Grand National to be delayed at Aintree this afternoon.
Activists from campaign organisation Animal Rising entered the track in advance of the most famous steeplechase in the world, clashing with police and appearing to tie themselves to fences around the course.
Local people attempted to help the police force the protestors back.
A large police presence was on site throughout the day including spotters on stand roofs and undercover members of the force in the effort to stop the protests but due to the large two mile perimeter of the course it could not be prevented.
A developing situation here at Aintree
There could be a delay to the Randox Grand National due to the presence of protestors on the course#ITVRacing | #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/5TIal4ulrj— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 15, 2023
There was an angry reaction to the protests with trainers and pundits expressing their dissatisfaction with the delay and explaining the care the horses receive.
"I wish people would see the care that the stable staff give to these horses," trainer Peter Scudamore told ITV.
"I wish all animals and pets lived forever and cake didn't make you fat but it does."
"I wish people would see the care that the stable staff give to these horses" 🗣@petescu #ITVRacing | #GrandNational pic.twitter.com/CCX7licIoK
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 15, 2023
The traditional singing of the national anthem and parade was abandoned. The race eventually got underway fifteen minutes later than scheduled.
One of Animal Rising's spokespeople Claudia Penna Rojas was arrested by police this afternoon before the course invasion began.
"I believe the reason why we're doing it is what's most important," she said.
"It's to draw attention to our broken relationship with animals in the natural world and how this needs to change. There has to be better ways for us to love animals and to have interactions with them that doesn't hurt them."
Claudia, one of our spokespeople, has just been arrested, for speaking out about the cruelty that is about to unfold on the track at Aintree. Thank you for trying to protect the horses Claudia. Please sign our petition to Cancel the Grand National 📷 https://t.co/cic6k0eiar pic.twitter.com/1CJ5alYaZS
— Animal Rising (@AnimalRising) April 15, 2023
Animal rights protests in advance of Grand National
A couple of hours before the invasion a slow-march around the racecourse was held.
"Today we stand in civil resistance against the barbaric practice of Horse Racing," Animal Rising wrote on Twitter.
"As a nation of animal lovers we have a moral responsibility to protect other animals from suffering. Envoye Special who was killed on Thursday was the 47th horse to die at a UK race track this year alone! We can't keep allowing this to happen. It's time we had a national conversation about the way we treat animals."
HAPPENING NOW! Supporters of Animal Rising are currently slow-marching around Aintree racecourse.
Today we stand in civil resistance against the barbaric practice of Horse Racing. As a nation of animal lovers we have a moral responsibility to protect other animals from… pic.twitter.com/w2BYaEpREK— Animal Rising (@AnimalRising) April 15, 2023
Last June, a number of protestors from Animal Rebellion ran onto the course in advance of the Cazoo Derby at Epsom.
Animal Rebellion rebranded on Monday to Animal Rising in an effort to move away from the Extinction Rebellion umbrella.
Six women entered the area wearing sashes reading “Animal Justice” just before the race. They were removed by police.
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