List of equine fatalities in the Grand National


Modern steeplechase races have an average of just over 4 equine fatalities for every 1,000 horses taking part, according to the British Horseracing Authority. However, the Grand National, a popular steeplechase held annually in England, yielded 7 fatalities out of 439 horses taking part between 2000 and 2010.
The Grand National is a National Hunt handicap race over a distance of 4 miles 3½ furlongs and over 30 fences at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool. The high number of equine deaths in the race has made it a target for animal rights activists. While course officials have repeatedly taken safety measures over the years, such as improving veterinary facilities and reducing the severity of fences, some have campaigned for further modifications or the abolition of the event that was inaugurated in 1839.
After the 1989 Grand National, in which two horses died in incidents at Becher's Brook, Aintree began making significant changes to the fences that are jumped during the National. The brook on the landing-side of Becher's was filled in to prevent horses rolling back into it, and the incline on the landing-side has been mostly levelled out, whilst retaining a drop to slow the runners. Other fences have been reduced in height, toe-boards have been made taller, and the entry requirements for participating horses have been made stricter, such as the requirement for runners to have been placed fourth or better in a previous recognised steeplechase over a distance of at least three miles.
Some within the horseracing community, including some with notable achievements in the Grand National, such as Ginger McCain and Bob Champion, have argued that the lowering of fences and the narrowing of ditches, primarily designed to increase horse safety, has had the adverse effect by encouraging the runners to race faster. During the 1970s and 1980s the Grand National saw a total of 12 horses die ; in the next 20-year period from 1990 to 2010, when modifications to the course were most significant, there were 17 equine fatalities.

List of fatalities

The animal welfare charity League Against Cruel Sports counts the number of horse deaths at 40 over the three-day meet from the year 2000 to 2013. The following list details the equine fatalities during, or as a direct result of participating in, the Grand National, that is, the showpiece steeplechase itself rather than all the various races held over the entire three-day "Grand National meeting". It includes, where applicable and where known, the fence at which the fatality occurred.
YearHorseFence #FateGoingRanNoteSource
2019Up For Review1 Brought downGood-soft40Jumped successfully but was brought down by another fallen horse
2012SynchronisedWhile running riderlessFellGood40Fell at Becher's Brook but continued running riderless until the 11th fence where he fractured his right-hind tibia and fibula and had to be euthanised.
2012According to Pete 22Brought downGood40Fractured his left-fore humerus and had to be euthanised.
2011Ornais4 FellGood40Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
2011Dooneys Gate6 FellGood40Fractured his thoracolumbar upon falling and had to be euthanised.
2009Hear The EchoWhile runningCollapsedGood-soft40Collapsed on the run-in and died.
2008McKelveyWhile running riderlessCollided with barrierGood40Unseated rider at 20th fence and continued running riderless until he collided with railings, was unable to regain his feet due to injuries, and had to be euthanised.
2007Graphic ApproachWhile running riderlessCollapsedGood40Fell at Becher's Brook but continued running riderless before collapsing with concussion; he was euthanised several days later.
2006Tyneandthyneagain1 FellGood-soft40Continued running riderless until falling later, was diagnosed with a spinal injury and had to be euthanised.
2003Goguenard 19Brought downGood40Injured in a mêlée by another falling horse and had to be euthanised.
2002The Last Fling 24FellGood40Broke his back upon falling and died.
2002Manx Magic 20FellGood40Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1999Eudipe 22FellGood32Broke his back upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1998Pashto1 FellHeavy37Collapsed after falling and had to be euthanised.
1998Do Rightly4 FellHeavy37Suffered a heart attack whilst jumping the fence.
1998Griffins BarWhile runningFellHeavy37Incurred a shoulder fracture after jumping the fifth fence and fell; later had to be euthanised.
1997Straight Talk14 FellGood36Incurred a leg fracture upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1997Smith's Band 20FellGood36Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1996Rust Never SleepsWhile runningPulled upGood27Pulled up lame before the 13th fence, diagnosed with a broken shoulder and euthanised.
1991BallyhaneAfter finishingCollapsedGood-soft40Suffered a haemorrhage after completing the race and died.
1990Roll-A-Joint8 FellFirm38Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1990Hungary HurWhile runningPulled upFirm38Incurred a leg fracture while running towards the 19th fence, pulled up and euthanised.
1989Brown Trix6 FellHeavy40Incurred a shoulder fracture upon falling.
1989Seeandem6 FellHeavy40Broke his back upon falling and died.
1987Dark Ivy6 FellGood40Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1984EarthstopperAfter finishingCollapsedGood40Collapsed and died after finishing the race.
1983Duncreggan8 FellSoft41Injured in fall and later euthanised.
1982Again The Same8 Pulled up39Upon his return home the horse was found to have broken a bone in his knee and had to be euthanised.
1979Kintai15Brought downGood34Injured in fall and later euthanised.
1979Alverton 22FellGood34Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1978Rag TradeWhile runningPulled upFirm37Pulled up lame before the 22nd fence and later euthanised.
1977Winter Rain6 FellGood42Injured in fall and later euthanised.
1977Zeta's Son 25FellGood42Injured in fall and later euthanised.
1975Land Lark15FellGood31Suffered a heart attack while jumping the fence.
1975Beau Bob 22FellGood31Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1973Grey Sombrero15FellFirm38Incurred a shoulder fracture upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1970Racoon3 FellGood28Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1967Vulcano3 FellGood44Injured in fall and euthanised.
1960Belsize II 20FellGood26Injured in fall and euthanised with a suspected cervical fracture.
1959Henry Purcell6 & 22FellGood34Broke his back upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1954Dominick's Bar2 & 18FellSoft29Suffered a heart attack while jumping the fence.
1954Paris New York4 & 20FellSoft29Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1954Legal Joy13 & 29FellSoft29Broke a leg in a fall and had to be euthanised.
1954Coneyburrow12 & 28FellSoft29Injured in a fall and later euthanised.
1953Cardinal Error4 FellGood31Injured or possibly killed in a fall.
1953Parasol II8 FellGood31Injured in a fall and later euthanised.
1952Skouras6 & 22FellGood-firm47Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and had to be euthanised.
1950Limestone Cottage8 FellGood49Injured in fall.
1946Symbole6 & 22FellGood34Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1938Cabin Fire8 FellGood36
1938Rock Lad16Injured on landingGood36
1936Avenger1 & 17FellGood36Incurred a cervical fracture and had to be euthanised.
1931Swift Roland6 & 22Fell"Perfect"43Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died..
1931Drin8 & 24Fell"Perfect"43Incurred a leg fracture and had to be euthanised.
1930Derby Day4 and 20Fell"Perfect"41Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died
1929Stort11 and 27Fell"Average"66fell at the 11th running loose Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.
1926Lone HandFellGood30
1922The Inca6 & 22FellGood32Incurred a leg fracture and had to be euthanised.
1922Awbeg6 & 23FellGood32Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died..
1907Kilts1 & 17FellGood23
1901True BlueFellSnow24
1891The EmperorWhile runningFellGood21Having been pulled up, fell and broke his back while running back to the stables.
1882Wild MonarchFellHeavy12
1872Primrose2 & 18FellHard25Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1871Lord RaglanFell"Perfect"25Broke a leg and was euthanised.
1869Huntsman's Daughter"Average"22Reports state only that the horse had to be euthanised after the race.
1868Chimney SweepWhile runningCollided with barrierHeavy21Injured when collided with barrier on the Melling Road and had to be euthanised.
1863Telegraph5 & 21FellGood16Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1862O'Connell15Fell"Average"13Was taken to the stables where he later died. His rider, Joe Wynne, also died later that evening from injuries sustained in the fall; this is the only occasion a jockey has been killed in the Grand National.
1861The ConductorRefused"Average"24Injured in mêlée and had to be euthanised.
1857Garry OwenPulled upHeavy28Ruptured his loins.
1857AlbatrossCollapsedHeavy28Fell dead while running towards the fence.
1856Banstead2 & 18Fell"Average"21Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1855Miss Mowbray8 & 24FellHeavy20Incurred a cervical fracture upon falling and died.-
1854Bedford9 & 25FellGood20Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1849The Curate2 & 18FellHeavy24Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1849Equinox3 & 19FellHeavy24Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1849Kilfane4 & 20FellHeavy24Injured in fall and had to be euthanised.
1848CounsellorFellHeavy29
1848The SailorFellHeavy29
1848Blue PillFellHeavy29
1845Clansman8 & 24FellHeavy16
1839Dictator9 & 25FellHeavy17Burst blood vessel.

Summary by fence

The following table summarises the total number of equine fatalities by each of the 16 fences on the course, and includes the current height of each.
Fence #Current heightTotal fatalities
1 & 174'06"5
2 & 184'07"4
3 & 19 4'10"4
4 & 204'10"8
5 & 215'00"1
6 & 22 5'00"14
7 & 23 4'06"0
8 & 24 5'00"7
9 & 25 5'00"4
10 & 265'00"0
11 & 27 5'00"0
12 & 285'00"1
13 & 294'07"1
14 & 304'06"1
15 5'02"3
16 2'06"0