Gold Dancer was forced to continue the race with a broken back. According to ‘Animal Aid’s Race Horse Death Watch,’ 68 horses have died at the Grand National Festival since 2000, including two horses, Celebre D’Allen and Willy De Houelle, who were killed in 2025.
I know this is an extremely disturbing story, but I wanted to share to spread awareness of the cruelty of these racing events.
RIP Gold Dancer
by nizaad
18 Comments
Article summary: Gold Dancer, a seven-year-old horse, was euthanised immediately after winning the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the Grand National Festival. The horse broke its back on the final fence and, despite veterinary attention after being forced to continue the race, could not be saved. This incident follows the deaths of four horses at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
*Warning: if you look up Gold Dancer, you will likely see disturbing images/videos of the injury.*
This is tragic
I can’t believe young people think animal cruelty is fine because it’s on TikTok and they get to wear a fancy hat to watch:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/11/horse-racing-ladies-day-aintree-grand-national-social-media
Its so odd we’re not past using/abusing animals for entertainment as a society. Poor horse.
Gross. Sadly can’t ever see this being phased out as a thing because too many toffs are involved.
What a disturbing headline to read. No sport that dangerous should be allowed to continue being played.
Is the POS rider being charged with animal abuse? Because it absolutely is that. How is this okay?
the jockey should have to run a 5k with a broken back and see how they like it
Eddie O’Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown, defended Townend’s actions for continuing to ride.
“What could Paul Townend do? He felt fine, it was just when he pulled up that something was wrong,” O’Leary said. Wow…that is disgusting. So tired of humans.
This is vile. Poor horse. I hate it here.
Poor horse. Forced to continue the race after the incident, even veterinarians advised against it, is irresponsible. It’s animal cruelty.
I fucking hate how humans treat animals.. we are supposed to care for them.. but abuse them for our own entertainment. Fucking sick.
This is so sad. Utterly heartbreaking. People involved claim to love horses but this is pure cruelty and abuse. Shame on anyone involved in any “sport” causing death to animals as a regular, accepted part of the sport
Hideous!! Whoever kept him running should be thrown in jail
The grand national is the most shameful thing that happens in my city. A brutal barbaric “sport” that causes unnecessary death and suffering.
It’s horrendous. Unfortunately it’s a game for the mega wealthy so it’s never going to change
I used to live down the road from a field of beautiful horses. Then one day I went further down the road and found the meat factory. As well as the horses that die during the race there are all the others that are too crazy from overbreeding, get injured during training, or are just rejects from racing.
It’s a sport for people that don’t care about other creatures, or never have a deep thought in their life.
How is this a “pop culture” topic??