Animal Aid consider private prosecution against jockey who rode Celebre d’Allen to the point of collapse

During the notoriously dangerous Grand National Race on Saturday 5^th April, the nation watched in horror as Celebre d’Allen was ridden to the point of collapse by jockey Micheal Nolan. Following a steward’s enquiry, Nolan was handed a ​10-day suspension​ from the British Horseracing Authority​ for riding Celebre d’Allen when he had ‘no more left to give’. A few days after enduring unimaginable suffering on the racecourse, Celebre d’Allen died​. The post mortem has been said to show that the death was not linked to the race, but rather a respiratory infection; however, Animal Aid will also be talking to experts to get a better understanding of the cause of death, especially as it came so soon after the extreme physical exertion imposed on the horse. ​ 

​​British horseracing and ​jockeys ​are not above the law, which makes it illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal, including horses, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Animal Aid will now be exploring the suffering caused and whether that suffering was unnecessary or not, something which the ban imposed on Nolan issued by the BHA, suggests was.

​​​The fact that this criminal investigation is being left to Animal Aid is indicative of a serious flaw at the heart of British horseracing, which is the fact it is not regulated by official bodies and instead left to the industry, The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), to self regulate. This has resulted in a lack of accountability where illegal cruelty to animals is concerned. In the absence of an independent regulator, Animal Aid feels it is critical to vigilantly monitor all horse racing events. Their mission is to ensure that any instance of animal suffering is brought to the public attention, with anyone breaching animal welfare law held to account.  ​​ 

Says Iain Green, Animal Aid Director: 

‘Last weekend, a thirteen-year-old horse was pushed so far beyond his limits in the name of ‘sport’ that his exhausted body collapsed​. This is sheer, incontrovertible animal cruelty – and those responsible for Celebre d’Allen’s ​suffering ​​​must be held accountable. To believe that a ten-day suspension is just punishment for leading a horse to ​collapse ​is simple absurdity.  

​​‘Animal Aid will not stop until justice is served for these innocent animals, forced into the brutality of an industry that cares not for their welfare, but only for profit and pay-checks.’​​​ 

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​​​Edie Bowles, solicitor, Advocates for Animals:​​

​​​​​ ​​​‘It is absurd that an industry that involves so much commercial and public interest is self regulated. The potential for conflicts of interest at the expense of animal welfare is clear. The fact that such a high profile incident like the collapse and death of a horse is not being investigated as a potential animal welfare offence is indicative of the significant concerns associated with self regulation. The fact that it is being left to my client, Animal Aid, to investigate and potentially bring a criminal prosecution, reveals that animal welfare is not being treated as the legal responsibility that it is’​​ 

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Notes for Editors 

• Other horses who suffered at the Grand National Meeting include Broadway Boy (IRE) who suffered a horrific fall on his neck during the Grand National Race. Willy De Houelle (FR) was killed in the second race of the first day.
• Read more about Animal Aid’s campaign to Ban Jump Racing here – Ban Jump Racing – Animal Aid
• Read our new report Victims of Abuse in British Horse Racing
• Visit Animal Aid’s Race Horse Death Watch site
• ​​​The post mortem results have been covered here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/grand-national-festival/celebre-dallen-death-not-directly-linked-to-post-race-collapse-though-vets-believe-complications-were-emerged-after-grand-national-exertions-ahn4R7G1XTlc/