? Synchronised and According To Pete fatalities not preventable
? Officials say too early to say if changes will be made to the race
The two horses killed in last month's Grand National died as the result of "factors one could neither have foreseen nor prevented", according to a preliminary report on the race by the sport's ruling body. The British Horseracing Authority added that it remains "too early to speculate" whether any changes will be made to the famous Aintree race, though the starting procedures will be the focus of particular attention, as all 40 riders are judged to have broken the rules before the event finally got under way.
After an examination of the available footage, including some that has not been broadcast, the BHA found that Synchronised sustained a broken leg while running loose about half a mile after he fell at Becher's Brook, the sixth fence on the National's first circuit. The report says the horse "appears to decelerate into the [11th] fence and does not jump it cleanly, dragging his hindlegs and hindquarters through the fence. It would appear he fractured his right hind tibia and fibula in the process".
As for his original fall at Becher's, the report says Synchronised "appeared to have a clear sight of the fence and did not make a significant error but became unbalanced prior to landing and fell sideways on to his left side".
The report discounts the possibility that a pre-race incident, when the horse unseated Tony McCoy and galloped loose around part of the course, could have made any contribution to his eventual injury. He was examined by a vet after being caught and was judged to be fit to compete. His heart rate at that point was "barely elevated above normal resting rate".
According To Pete, the other horse killed, broke his off-fore humerus when brought down at Becher's Brook on the second circuit. The report describes him jumping the fence "well" but having "nowhere to go" on the landing side, thanks to On His Own falling in front of him.
However, the report notes that crowding at the fence may have made some contribution to the incident. According To Pete had a clear sight on the approach to Becher's but On His Own "was possibly left a little unsighted" as the leaders drifted in front of him from his right. This caused him "to get in close to the fence and consequently he landed steeply with reduced forward momentum, knuckling on landing and rolling to his left, into the path of According To Pete".
As for the starting procedures, the BHA ruled that all 40 riders broke the rules, either by lining up before the starter instructed them to do so or, thereafter, by lining up when the starter had explicitly told them not to do so. However, the report admits two extenuating circumstances, relating to the drama caused by Synchronised getting loose as well as "complications experienced" while the tape was reset after being broken.
In the circumstances, none of the riders will be subjected to disciplinary proceedings. The BHA has confined itself to writing to them all, expressing its "disappointment" at their conduct.
Even so, its conclusion drew a swift, disputatious response from the Professional Jockeys' Association, whose chief executive, Paul Struthers, does not accept that his members breached the rules. He said he had "made submissions to the BHA explaining why we felt disciplinary action would be both ill-advised and unfair".
Struthers added: "We are keen to work closely with both the BHA and Aintree ahead of the race next year in order to minimise as much as possible any contributory factors that cause difficulties for the jockeys, the horses and the starting team".
Jamie Stier, the BHA's director of raceday operations and regulations, said: "At this stage, it remains too early to speculate as to whether any changes will be made to the Grand National; either to the start or to other aspects. Naturally, we will be liaising closely with Aintree in collating and examining all relevant evidence from this year's meeting.
"While the focus of attention is inevitably on the Grand National, it should not be forgotten that, throughout the three days, Aintree staged top-class and highly competitive jump racing under near perfect conditions. The course deserves considerable credit for implementing the changes recommended in the 2011 Review to such good effect and for the overall success of the meeting."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/01/grand-national-report-british-horseracing-authority
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