‘Get On George’ became the second horse to be killed at this year’s Aintree festival, pulled up two hurdles from the end of the 13:20 after visibly struggling on the course. He had only just turned six years old. As he took his last breaths, television commentary turned to the parties unfolding in the spectator enclosures.
For campaigners, it was a death foretold. Every year, animal welfare groups warn that the festival will claim lives. Every year, those warnings are dismissed. And every year, the warnings are proved right.
Isobel McNally, Campaign Manager on Horse Racing at Animal Aid, did not mince her words.
“Every year we are amongst multiple groups who warn that events like this will result in death, and every year jockeys, trainers, and owners choose their own profits over horses’ lives.
“Make no mistake, Get On George’s death hurt, it was entirely predictable and preventable, yet multiple people chose to let this happen when they chose to run this race. It’s time to take horse’s lives seriously and end horse racing.”
Injuries and deaths of this kind are not rare in British racing. They occur, on average, every other day somewhere in the country. Animal Aid argues this is no accident but the predictable consequence of pushing horses beyond their physical limits, with the whip used to drive them faster than they would naturally choose to run. The charity is calling on the public to turn their backs on the sport and boycott racing altogether.
Founded in 1977, Animal Aid is one of the world’s longest established animal rights organisations, campaigning peacefully against all forms of animal abuse and promoting cruelty-free living. To mark the Year of the Horse, the charity is publishing one horse’s story each week, hoping to show readers the individual animal behind the racecard, the bookmakers’ odds, and what it calls the industry’s smokescreen – sensitive, sociable creatures who live longer, happier lives when they are not forced to race.
Get On George was one of those individuals. Six years old. Pulled up two fences from home. Gone before the next race was called.
Get On George, trained by Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, followed Gold Dancer, who was killed the previous day after the Mildmay Novices’ Chase.
For more information, visit animalaid.org.uk.
