More than 100 arrested after protesters stormed the Grand National and delayed the race

Police arrested 118 people at Aintree Racecourse as large numbers of protesters tried to get onto the track, delaying the start of the flagship Great National.

Dozens of activists scaled fences in Aintree, with at least two attached to the jump with glue and fasteners, animal welfare group Animal Rising said.

Protesters breached security fences when the national runners were in the parade ring, causing a 12-minute delay, although racegoers helped police and event organizers prevent some from taking to the course.

As the race got under way, the horse was destroyed after falling at the first fence – the second to die at Aintree on Saturday and the third of the three-day festival, prompting campaigners to call for racing to be banned.

Merseyside Police said: “We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression, but criminal behavior and disorder will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely.”

Assistant Chief Constable Paul White said: “Today, as you have seen, there has been a significant protest over the running of the Grand National.

“It started this morning, there was a series of protests outside that spilled over today around 5pm with a lot of people trying to get onto the track and we partnered with the event organizers and members of the public to, well, mostly manage to stop it and ultimately as a result, the event took place – albeit with a slight delay.”

He said the protesters tried to gain access to the track from a number of points on the far side of the track but were removed “quickly”.

“The perimeter of the track is four to five kilometres, so you know that’s a significant resource to try and cover every area.

“We put in place a proportionate policing plan and overall we were able to stop the vast majority of people entering the course, a small number did enter the course but were removed very quickly, again in partnership with the event organiser, staff and private protection and police”.

Mr White said 118 people had been arrested for criminal damage and disorderly conduct, including some pre-race detentions and others for a protest on the M57 where activists taped themselves to the road.

Protester Sarah McCaffrey, a shop worker and student, said: “Whether it’s for food or for entertainment, our use of animals and nature is symbolic of a broken relationship.

“We are a nation of animal lovers, but the pain these beautiful creatures experience on a daily basis does not match that label. We need to find ways to love animals that don’t hurt them.

“I truly believe that each of us is a nation of animal lovers. I know that anyone who comes to Aintree today to watch the races would say they love horses; however, the suffering they endured should shock us all.

“That’s why I decided to put my body between these horses and death on the racetrack rather than play with their lives.”

Campaign group Helping animals said jumps racing should be banned after Hill Sixteen suffered a broken neck at the first fence in the Grand National and was beaten.

Horse Dark Raven died earlier on Saturday and Envoye Special on Thursday, while the group said two other horses fell at the Grand National and were taken by ambulance with life-threatening injuries, and the fate of another fall, Castle Robin, an earlier race, remained unknown.

Animal Aid jumping consultant Dene Stansall said: “Jumping must be banned to prevent a repeat of the brutal horrors witnessed at Aintree today and this week.

“The lives of innocent racehorses are taken from them in the name of entertainment and gambling. Aintree, the worst of all racecourses, shame and disgrace Jockey Club and British racing should hang its heads in utter shame at what we have seen in the last three days.’

Many Aintree racegoers appeared oblivious to the protest and cheered on the horses as they passed.

Christine Maybin, 29, from Antrim, Northern Ireland, who was racing with Dwayne McGurk, 31, said: “We noticed the delay but we didn’t know it was because of the protesters, we thought they were fixing the fences.”

Mr McGurk said: “The delay didn’t affect us, we just had another drink. We had an incredible day here.”

Earlier on Saturday, Merseyside Police said three people had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a public disorder: a 25-year-old woman from London and a 55-year-old man from Greater Manchester were arrested outside the racecourse on Saturday. and a 33-year-old woman from the London area arrested in the Greater Manchester area earlier in the day.

Nathan McGovern, spokesman for Animal Rising, said: “These actions show that the police are spending more time chasing peaceful protesters than tackling the real issues at hand, such as our broken relationship with animals and the climate emergency.”

A police dispersal zone was set up around the racetrack amid threats of disruption.

Traffic was blocked by protesters on the M57 at around the same time as activists tried to make their way onto Aintree Racecourse.

North West Motorway Police said on Twitter: “We have a number of people sitting on the M57 at junction 2 northbound – motorway closed.”

The National Highways Agency said traffic was stopped in both directions on the motorway – between junctions one and two – shortly before 5.15pm, but by 6pm the southbound carriageway had reopened and northbound traffic had been diverted through the driving

There were delays of more than an hour on the M62 to Aintree.

The pictures show demonstrators in pink T-shirts on the road.

A spokesman for Aintree Racecourse said: “We respect the right to protest peacefully, but we sincerely hope that Animal Rising will consider whether their proposed actions are legal and responsible.

“Their actions could endanger the horses they are supposedly protecting, as well as jockeys, officials and themselves.

“As you would expect, we are working closely with Merseyside Police to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone, including all participants, human and equine, at the Grand National.”

After a delay, Corach Rambler, trained by Lucinda Russell and ridden by Derek Fox, won a special race.