DON’T MISS Grand National festival tragedy as horse DIED after falling in horror crash at Aintree prompts fans to call for Grand National to be taken off TV

The electric atmosphere of Liverpool’s Aintree Racecourse, usually a whirlwind of cheers, bets, and champagne toasts, turned to hushed horror on Saturday afternoon during the climax of the 2025 Grand National Festival. What should have been a triumphant showcase of equine athleticism and human grit instead became a stark reminder of the sport’s brutal underbelly, as beloved horse Celebre d’Allen collapsed and died in the aftermath of a grueling race. The 10-year-old gelding, trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, had battled valiantly through the infamous 4-mile, 2½-furlong course, navigating 30 formidable fences under the guidance of jockey Micheal Nolan. But in a heartbreaking twist, it was not a mid-race tumble that claimed him, but exhaustion that struck like a silent thief after the final jump.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as “gut-wrenching.” Celebre d’Allen, a fan favorite known for his spirited runs in previous seasons, pulled up just beyond the last fence, his powerful frame heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Veterinary teams swarmed the track immediately, their faces etched with urgency as they assessed the horse’s deteriorating condition. The race, already delayed by over 10 minutes for on-site treatment of other fallers, ground to a halt amid mounting tension. Nolan, dismounting swiftly, stood by helplessly as medics worked. Despite initial signs of stabilization—enough for the horse to be transported to a nearby stud farm for overnight monitoring—his health plummeted by Sunday morning. A somber statement from Aintree officials confirmed the worst: “Celebre d’Allen was a much-loved member of the team, and we are deeply saddened by this news.”

This tragedy marked the second equine fatality at the festival, following the untimely death of Willy De Houelle on opening day. The Willie Mullins-trained youngster suffered a fatal injury in a fall during the Juvenile Hurdle, ejecting jockey Rachael Blackmore—who thankfully escaped with minor injuries—to gasps from the crowd. Blackmore, a trailblazing figure in the sport as the first woman to win the Grand National in 2021, was stretchered off but later reported as “sore but okay.” Yet, the double blow has amplified long-simmering debates about the ethics of jump racing, particularly the jewel in its crown: the Grand National.

Fans and activists wasted no time voicing their outrage, with social media erupting in a torrent of grief and demands for reform. “This isn’t sport; it’s slaughter on live TV,” tweeted one viewer, echoing sentiments shared by thousands. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) flooded with hashtags such as #BanTheGrandNational and #YouBetTheyDie, as clips of the incident—though quickly censored by broadcasters—circulated widely. Animal rights group Animal Aid was among the first to condemn the event, stating, “Celebre d’Allen’s death is the 67th at Aintree since 2000, proof that tweaks to fences and fields aren’t enough. If this were any other ‘sport’ with such a body count, it’d be banned outright.” The League Against Cruel Sports piled on, calling for an independent regulator prioritizing welfare over profits and a outright prohibition on whips, which they argue push horses “beyond safe limits.”

A particularly vocal chorus targeted the role of television in glamorizing the carnage. ITV, the official broadcaster, faced scathing backlash for its coverage. Critics lambasted the network for lingering on dramatic falls before cutting away, only to pivot abruptly to winner Nick Rockett’s victory parade at 33/1 odds under amateur jockey Patrick Mullins. “Why air this barbarism to millions? Take the Grand National off TV—let the elite gamble in private if they must,” posted a prominent campaigner, garnering over 50,000 likes. Echoing past controversies, like the 2011 accidental broadcast of fatalities that sparked similar fury, detractors argued that live exposure normalizes cruelty, desensitizing viewers while fueling a £500 million betting bonanza. One viral thread read: “ITV profits from horse suffering. Boycott the broadcast, demand a ban—our screens shouldn’t be bloodied.”

The jockey fraternity, too, felt the sting. Nolan, who rode Celebre d’Allen with evident commitment, received a 10-day suspension from Aintree stewards for “continuing when the horse appeared spent after the second-last fence.” The Irish rider, speaking post-inquiry, defended his split-second decision: “He was my partner out there; I thought he had one more push. Hindsight is cruel, but no one wants this.” Supporters rallied around him, with figures like trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies—whose Broadway Boy survived a separate “sickening” fall at the 25th fence—urging compassion. Broadway Boy, leading much of the race before tumbling headfirst, required extensive on-track care but walked into an ambulance for stable-side recovery, sparing further immediate loss.

Aintree’s management, led by regional director Dickon White, acknowledged the pain while defending the sport’s evolution. “We’ve reduced the field to 34 runners, softened fences, and widened ditches—fatalities in the National proper dropped to zero last year,” White noted in a BBC interview. “But like elite athletics, risk persists. We’re reviewing every incident, unafraid of bolder changes.” Data bears this out somewhat: Wikipedia’s tally shows 88 Grand National deaths since 1839, but recent years reflect progress, with only one fatality in the main race over the last two editions before 2025. Still, the festival’s three-day toll—now including Celebre d’Allen and Willy De Houelle—stands at two, a grim echo of the 16 National-specific losses since 2000.

Yet, for many, statistics blur into irrelevance against raw emotion. Families watching at home shielded children’s eyes; pub crowds fell silent mid-cheer. “I tuned in for tradition, left in tears,” shared one lifelong attendee. Protests outside Aintree, organized by PETA and allies, swelled with placards reading “Horses Aren’t Gamblers’ Pawns.” Elisa Allen of PETA decried: “Predictable and avoidable—the Grand National must be put to pasture.” As calls to delist the event from TV schedules gain traction—potentially pressuring regulators like Ofcom—the sport teeters on a precipice.

In the end, Celebre d’Allen’s story transcends one race. He was more than a competitor; to his connections, a gentle giant with a knack for defying odds. Tributes poured in from stables across the UK and Ireland, with Hobbs recalling, “He lit up every yard he entered.” As Aintree heals and gears for next year, the question lingers: Can tradition endure without evolution, or will public revulsion finally rein in the chase? For now, the fences stand tall, but the voices demanding change grow louder, a clarion call that no victory lap can drown out.