via (Daily Mail)

Yesterday was Grand National day at Aintree, one of the biggest horse racing meets in the world. Most bookmakers were run off their feet taking bets from regulars and legions of non-regulars who fancied a flutter on the occasion in the vain hope their horse, (expertly selected either by the colour of the jockey’s uniform or the horse’s name), would cross the line first and net them some cash.

Usually horses will jump 30 fences in the Grand National but for the very first time in the history of the race competitors only jumped 28. This was because two horses had fallen first time around the course and had died instantly. Racing staff were only able to cover the bodies of the horses in canvas sheeting and guide the jockeys around the fences where they had fallen. Thirty three horses have now died since 2000 at the Aintree spring festival alone.

via (Daily Mail)

The BBC News website states:

Ornais and Dooneys Gate were fatally injured after their falls at the fourth and sixth fences, respectively.

This led to two of the 30 fences being bypassed for the first time in the race’s history as runners were sent around the obstacles on the second circuit.

Those who owned, looked after, trained and rode those two horses will be heartbroken.

Their deaths come after a National Hunt season which has seen high-quality chasers die, including Twist Magic and Pride of Dulcote.

Although if it wasn’t for horse racing we would never had been treated to this slice of genius: