sport news Grand National Festival horse Giovinco dies after falling mid-race, enraging ... trends now By Luke Power Published: 15:28 BST, 12 April 2024 | Updated: 15:37 BST, 12 April 2024 Viewcomments Animal rights activists are enraged and devastated after a horse, Giovinco, died following a fall during the second day of the Grand National Festival. Giovinco, aged seven, fell during the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, the first race of Ladies' Day at Aintree. The gelding was three lengths behind the lead and fell at the final fence. He was treated on-track by vets but they were unable to save him. His tragic death comes just 24 hours before the festival's showpiece event, for which a huge 'ring of steel' has been erected to keep out protesters. 'If the death toll was this "high" in any other sport, it would be banned immediately,' a statement from Animal Aid read. 'However, because it's "just" horses being killed, then the racing industry and the government seem content to allow these innocent animals to suffer horrific injuries and die.' Giovinco was trained by two-time Grand National winner Lucinda Russell and jockeyed by Stephen Mulqueen. He died at 1.45pm on Friday afternoon. Racing TV wrote in tribute: 'Heartbreaking news. We are sorry to announce the sad passing of Giovinco. Our thoughts go out to Lucinda Russell & connections.' A 'ring of steel' will protect this Saturday's Grand National from animal rights protestors, with police deploying specialist undercover behaviour experts to monitor the crowds. Security cordons, often called rings of steel, have been put in place. Senior officers are keen to avoid a repeat of scenes at last year's horse race when activists stormed the track and attempted to glue themselves to fences. After an undercover expose by the Mail, police had been alerted to the plot organised by campaign group Animal Rising a fortnight earlier, and were on hand to quickly arrest more than 100 protestors. More to follow. Grand National Share or comment on this article: Grand National Festival horse Giovinco dies after falling mid-race, enraging animal rights activists 24 hours before Aintree's big race, where a ring of steel has been built to stop protest invasion All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility