Synchronised and According To Pete’s deaths could neither be "foreseen nor prevented"
The death of Synchronised and According To Pete has raised some controversy about race regulations in the John Smith’s Grand National, where these two runners had to be euthanised after sustaining fatal injuries.
The injuries were unfortunate for the runners as well as their connections, but there was no way that they could have been prevented.
Director of race day operations and regulation for the British Horseracing Authority, Jamie Stier told the press that:
"The findings include reference to Synchronised getting loose before the start as it was felt important to establish beyond doubt that this episode played no part in the events that resulted in his injury.
"In the case of both Synchronised and According To Pete, it was apparent that factors one could neither have foreseen nor prevented were prevalent in the events that led to the two horses sustaining their injuries."
Synchronised, trained by Jonjo O’Neill was given a full medical exam before he entered the race, and it was determined that he was fit to run.
He unseated his rider Tony McCoy on the way to the start, and fell at the eleventh fence, where it is speculated that he fractured his right-hind tibia and fibula.
According to Pete, the eleven-year-old bay gelding who was under the training of Malcolm Jefferson, sustained his injury when he fell in the second circuit and was jumped on by another horse.
The RSPCA repeatedly emphasised on the fact that some major changes need to be made to the race so that such a travesty does not take place again.
Gavin Grant, who is the Chief executive of RSPCA stated that the National event was still extremely risky for the horses, and it is appalling that every year, the death toll rises in number.
He elaborated by stating that despite the safety improvements, the race still might be harmful for the horses.
He further went on to say that dangerous fences like the Becher's Brook should be removed, which had catastrophic consequences for Synchronised and According To Pete.
No major changes need to be made to the track, but small changes are vital, which can be very beneficial in the long run.
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