Protest at BBC after horse killed on first day of Grand National 2011

01/09

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Protesters demonstrate outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course.

02/09

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A protesters demonstrates outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course.

03/09

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04/09

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05/09

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06/09

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A sign in front of the BBC. Protesters demonstrate outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course.

07/09

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08/09

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A woman holds a sign as protesters demonstrate outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course.

09/09

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Two protesters carrying signs outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course.

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People protested outside the BBC in White City after a 6 year old gelding 'Inventor' fell in the Silver Cross Handicap Hurdle at the Grand National and due to serious injury was destroyed at the Aintree course. 09/04/2011.

Since the start of the three day Grand National meeting in 2000, 32 horses have been killed at the event.

Animal Aid Horse Racing Consultant Dene Stansall has said in a statement that, 'horse deaths at the Grand National Meeting are not accidents, they are predictable This is not sport but straightforward animal abuse. It must be consigned to history.'

UPDATE 09/04/2011 PM

Two horses died today during the racing. Ornais fell at the fourth fence breaking his neck and Dooneys Gate broke his back at Becher's Brook.

As a result, the two fences where the fatal falls occurred were bypassed.

Reportedly, race winner Ballabriggs was too exhausted to be ridden into the winner's enclosure. The horse is trained by Donald McCain, whose father, Ginger, trained Red Rum.