Grand National 2024 second horse confirmed dead before main race

A second horses is confirmed to have died at the 2024 Grand National festival.

Seven-year-old Pikar lost its life on Ladies Day at Aintree on Friday, April 12, during the final race of the day. The horse fell at the last hurdle and broke its neck while being ridden by Stephen Mulqueen in the Aintree Handicap Hurdle.

While the racecourse's veterinary team attempted to treat the animal's injuries, it passed away soon after the incident. It came just a few hours after Giovinco suffered fatal injuries in the first race of the day.

Read more: Grand National 2024 live results, places and updates from Aintree

Following the deaths, an Aintree Racecourse spokesperson said: "During our first race of the day, Giovinco fell at the last fence and was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary professionals. After assessment, sadly they concluded the necessary course of action for the horse's welfare was to put him to sleep.

"Pikar sadly passed away following a fall at the second last hurdle in the last race of the day, having also been attended to on course by our veterinary team. Our heartfelt condolences are with the connections of both horses.”

Overall, 65 horses have died during the famous racing festival since 2000. Campaign group Animal Aid said it was "disgusted that more lives have been needlessly lost at this notorious event"

The group's direction, Iain Green, said: "If the death toll was this high in any other 'sport', it would be banned immediately. However, because it's 'just' horses being killed, then the racing industry and the government seem content to allow these innocent animals to suffer horrific injuries and die."