80,000 attend Grand National despite animal rights’ criticism

THOUSANDS of people attended Aintree yesterday despite criticism of the Grand National from animal rights protesters who delayed last year’s race.

About 80,000 made up the crowd at the Liverpool racecourse to see the world-famous steeplechase on the final day of the Randox Grand National Festival.

Group Animal Rising earlier said it would not disrupt this year’s race, after the last National was delayed when protesters got onto the course, leading to more than 100 arrests.

Five protesters from Animal Aid held cardboard placards outside the entrance to the racecourse on Saturday, but their presence did not seem to impact the atmosphere.

Bill Taylor, 77, who was at the racecourse on his great-nephew’s stag do, said: “It’s iconic isn’t it? It’s on my bucket list and here I am. I can’t believe it, what an occasion.

“I’ve been to Wembley, I’ve been to San Siro, I’ve been everywhere, but I’ve never been to Aintree. It is buzzing.”

Famous faces at the course included former Liverpool footballers Ian Rush and Sir Kenny Dalglish, ex-Hollyoaks actress Sarah Jayne Dunn, and Olympians Sam Quek and Kelly Sotherton.

Rush said: “The Grand National has a big place in people’s hearts, it’s been going for years and years.

“Aintree is something special. Liverpool are playing on Sunday, Everton are playing on Monday, so this is all concentrated on Aintree today.”

In an email said to have been sent to Jockey Club chief executive Nevin Truesdale, Animal Rising co-founder Dan Kidby wrote: “Animal Rising’s actions last year shone a spotlight on the deaths that happen during the Grand National Festival.

“This light continues to shine and we don’t believe disruption is needed to draw attention to this again.

“Horses have died almost every single year at the Grand National. The safest bet one could make is that a horse would die.”