A horse has died at the Grand National meeting at Aintree this afternoon (April 3).
Well-known female jockey Rachel Blackmore suffered a fall while riding Willy De Houelle and the horse has since died.
Willy De Houelle was taking part in the second race of the Grand National today.
Rachael Blackmore was taken away in an ambulance after the fall that came early on in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle but is thought to be okay, reports the Express.
Rachel Blackmore's horse dies after fall at Grand National meeting at Aintree
During the race, two more horses suffered falls, but both are thought to be fine.
The death toll of this event is now 66 horses killed since 2000, according to Animal Aid Campaigns.
Nina Copleston-Hawkens, Animal Aid Campaigns Manager, said: “The racing industry has been marketing the Grand National meeting recently as ‘the greatest story in sport’ – in what world is that remotely possible?
“This is not ‘the greatest story in sport’, this is a hellish nightmare, where innocent animals are dying of heart attacks and broken legs and broken backs and discarded once no longer of use.
R.I.P Willy De Houelle (FR), just four years old, killed at The Grand National Meeting today. This takes the death-toll of this cruel ‘festival’ up to 66 horses killed since 2000. ???? pic.twitter.com/UMkZHJgCRT
— Animal Aid (@AnimalAid) April 3, 2025
“No amount of champagne, fancy outfits or clever marketing can disguise this for what it is – animal cruelty, on an industrial scale.”
Thousands of racegoers arrived at Aintree for the first day of the Grand National festival.
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More than 150,000 people are due on the racecourse for the three-day racing festival, which culminates on Saturday when the world-famous Grand National steeplechase is run.
Crowds enjoyed the sunshine for the opening day on Thursday, which is expected to have an attendance of about 23,000.
Among the racegoers was the Princess Royal, who attended a lunch held by charity Racing Welfare, of which she is president, before watching the first race of the day.
