The start to Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree has been delayed by animal rights protesters.
Animal Rising had threatened to disrupt the world’s most prestigious and famous steeplechase and were protesting from early on Saturday morning outside the track.
As the National runners were in the parade ring ahead of a scheduled 17.15 start, a number of protesters breached security fences around the Liverpool venue and ran on to the course.
The horses were sent back to the pre-parade ring, with the race facing an indefinite delay.
Former champions jockey Tony McCoy slammed the protestors and branded them attention seekers.
He told ITV Sport: ‘They are attention seekers. If these people had that much care for horses… they have never been to stables.
‘They have no real understanding of the horses and how well they get looked after.’
He continued: These people don’t want anything explained to them. They have their own minds made up and that is the sad thing about it.
‘I don’t think we should have to justify it to any of these people because they don’t deserve it.’
Those sentiments were echoed by another former jockey Peter Scudamore added: “I am sorry for the horses.
‘While the protestors do this it affects the welfare of the horses. I wish people would see the care the stable staff give to these horses.’
Earlier on Saturday three people were arrested in connection with a plan by activists to disrupt one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar.
All three were arrested on ‘suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,’ Merseyside Police said.
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Police said they have been working with race organizers ahead of and during the Grand National Festival, which started Thursday.
‘We are aware of some people planning to protest at the event,’ a police spokesperson said in a statement.
‘This has been factored into our plans. We respect the right to peaceful protest and expression of views, but criminal behavior and disorder will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.’
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