Docusign Envelope ID: ABA671A3-E271-4EC4-AB06-1088FEC37456
“2025 has been a terrible year for horse racing. The shocking deaths at this
year’s Grand National and Scottish Grand National laid bare the brutal reality
of the sport to the viewing public. Week after week, horses are pushed to
their limits and lose their lives on racetracks, and more people are waking up
to the cruelty behind the spectacle. This cruelty is exactly why campaigners
feel compelled to take peaceful action against industry- sponsored suffering.”
A press release on AR’s website dated 4 April 2025 23 refers to the ongoing criminal
18.2
proceedings against ten individuals who were arrested at the Epsom Racecourse on 3
June 2023. The press release describes these individuals as having been arrested
“ while bringing attention to cruelty and suffering in the horse racing industry, but
before they stepped foot on the race track, ” and stated that their actions “ helped shine
the spotlight onto our broken relationship with other animals and the natural world .” A
comment from one of the individuals charged is included as follows:
“This weekend brings yet another episode of televised cruelty in the form of
the Grand National, even though the British public are moving away from
cruel and harmful industries like horse racing. As the truth about the
breaking-in, whipping, injuries, and deaths that happen comes to light we are
seeing a drop in attendance at these events.
How many horses have to die, like Willy De Houelle just yesterday, before
we truly embrace what it means to be a nation of animal lovers? We must
work together to create a world where the animals currently trapped in horse
racing, greyhound racing, and other bloodsports can instead live free and
happy lives.”
A press release posted on AR’s website on 17 December 2024 24 notes that charges of
18.3
public nuisance and criminal damage against an individual who was due to stand trial
in September 2025 for her actions seeking to disrupt the Grand National in 2023, were
dropped due to lack of evidence. The press release included a statement from the
individual concerned, Megan Thornbury, as follows:
“I have watched horses die at the Grand National since I was a child seeing
the race on TV. It’s barbaric that we still allow this to happen year after year,
not to mention the thousands of horses dying over the years at other races
around the country. To me, the Grand National is a national disgrace. We
took a stand against the Grand National that day to show the industry that
we won’t stay silent about the suffering it causes. It’s time horse racing was
consigned to the history books.”
22 Pages 84 - 85 of CB1 23 Pages 86 - 87 of CB1 24 Pages 88 - 89 of CB1
8
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator