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Horse racing-Second Fatality at Grand National Meeting
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 11, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 11, 2026
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Quick Summary
At Aintree’s Grand National meeting on April 11, 2026, Get On George was euthanised after pulling up injured in the second race. It marked the second equine fatality of the festival following Gold Dancer’s fatal injury in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase the prior day.
Second Fatality at Grand National Raises Concerns Over Horse Racing Safety
Fatal Incidents and Safety Measures at the Grand National
By Virginia Furness
Details of the Second Fatality: Get On George
LIVERPOOL, England, April 11 (Reuters) - Get On George became the second fatality at this year's Grand National meeting after pulling up in the second race at Aintree on Saturday.
The six-year old gelding, trained by Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, was attended to by vets on the course and was put down immediately after the race. It was the second fatal injury to a racehorse at this year's Aintree showpiece.
The First Fatality: Gold Dancer
On Friday, Gold Dancer suffered a fatal injury nL6N40T128 after making a bad mistake at the last before continuing to run on a considerable distance to win the Mildmay Novices' Chase. Jockey Paul Townend told stewards the horse felt sound and continued running in a straight line to the finish before losing his action round the bend.
Veterinary Response and Review Process
Vets at the scene agreed the best course of action was to humanely euthanise Gold Dancer who had broken his back. The British Horseracing Authority said it would further assess the incident through its fatality review process.
Recent Safety Improvements at the Grand National
Changes to Race Conditions
Efforts have been made in recent years to improve the safety of the Grand National, including moving the front fence forward to try to slow down the start of the race and restricting the maximum number of runners to 34.
Ongoing Evaluation and Reporting
(Reporting by Virginia Furness; editing by Clare Fallon)
Key Takeaways
- •Get On George, a six‑year‑old gelding trained by Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith, sustained an injury during the 13:20 William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on April 11 and was immediately put down by vets on course.
- •On April 10, Gold Dancer, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, suffered a broken back after completing the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and was euthanized, triggering a BHA fatality review.
- •These back‑to‑back fatalities renew scrutiny on Grand National safety measures, despite recent reforms such as moving the start fence forward and capping field sizes to 34 runners.
Frequently Asked Questions about Horse racing-Second fatality at Grand National meeting
1Who was the second horse fatality at the Grand National meeting?
Get On George was the second fatality at this year's Grand National after pulling up in the second race at Aintree.
2What happened to Gold Dancer at the Grand National?
Gold Dancer suffered a fatal injury after making a bad mistake at the last and was humanely euthanised following the race.
3What safety measures have been implemented at the Grand National?
The Grand National has moved the front fence forward and restricted the number of runners to 34 to improve safety.
4Who is responsible for reviewing fatal incidents at the Grand National?
The British Horseracing Authority will further assess fatal incidents through its fatality review process.
