THE death of two horses at Ludlow Racecourse has resulted in a protest from an animal aid charity.

According to Animal Aid the innate cruelty of National Hunt (jump) racing was evident at Ludlow Racecourse which saw seven-year-old gelding, Gayebury take an horrific fall and suffer fatal spinal injuries in a race in which just three horses were taking part.

His death came just days after another horse, Number One London, collapsed and subsequently died at the same course.

Complacency amongst the racing industry, the British Horseracing Authority, many vets, politicians and law enforcers allows almost daily equine casualties in this so-called ‘sport,’ say the charity.

They say that animals used in racing, it would appear, have little or no legal protection; they’re hit with whips to push them to their physical and mental limits, and nearly half of all race horses are forced to jump dangerous obstacles - either hurdles or fences.

Gayebury is not only the fourth horse to die at Ludlow this year but the 145th victim to die on a British racecourse in 2017, says Animal Aid.

Animal Aid claims to be the only national campaign group that works continuously to bring this animal suffering to public and media attention, and say they will continue to strive for an end to this exploitation.

“The racing industry has got away with cruelty for far too long and the spectre of death that looms over the lives of all race horses when they race should come to an end. At Animal Aid we are committed to bringing this about,” said Dene Stansall, Animal Aid’s Horse Racing Consultant.

There has been controversy over horse racing for many years and the death of horses is not uncommon.

Concerns about the danger racing poses to horses has resulted in recent years to major changes to the Grand National, the best known steeplechase in the country.

This has involved modifications to some of the fences to make them easier and the creation of run-off areas.

Supporters of racing say that horses would not run if they did not enjoy taking part.