How many horses have died in the Grand National and why do some people want jump-racing banned?

Three horses died during this year's Grand National festival, while 118 people were arrested as protesters tried to storm the racecourse at Aintree.

Envoye Special suffered a fatal injury on the opening day of the races after falling at one of the fences during the Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, while Dark Raven suffered a heavy fall and was put down during Saturday's 3pm race.

Then, during the festival's main Grand National race, Hill Sixteen fell at the first fence and was put down after suffering a broken neck.

Protesters had delayed its start by storming the racecourse and trying to fix themselves to fences and railings.

Hill Sixteen's trainer Sandy Thomson blamed "ignorant" protesters for making the 10-year-old horse "hyper" to the point of needing to be washed off right before the race, the Racing Post reports.

Read more: More than 100 arrested after protesters storm Grand National and delay race

However, Animal Rising, the group behind the disruption, said 49 horses have died or been killed in the UK so far this year due to horse-racing, adding: "We didn't cause those deaths and we haven't caused any today."

The Grand National may be watched by more than 500 million people each year, but many condemn it as the sport's most dangerous event.

Here, Yahoo News takes a look at why the Grand National is so controversial.

How many horses have died in the Grand National?

The death toll for the Aintree Festival stands at 62 horses since 2000 - 16 of which were killed in the Grand National race itself.

Two horses were killed in the main event last year, while a total of four died over the course of 2022's three-day festival in Liverpool.

A total of 89 horses have died in the main race since the first festival was held in 1839, while only one jockey has lost their life.

On March 12, 1862, Joseph Wynne, riding O'Connell, was injured after another horse, named Playmate, caused a pileup after falling at The Chair – the race's 15th fence and one of its most notoriously difficult jumps.

Playmate landed on top of Wynne, crushed his breastbone and knocked him unconscious. He died at 8pm that evening without ever regaining consciousness.

Why is the Grand National so controversial?

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) UK describes the Grand National race as "one of the longest and most hazardous in the world", saying its "high-risk factor" is what makes it famous.

In total there are 16 fences on the Grand National course, 14 of which are jumped twice along the four-mile, two-and-half furlong distance, which campaigners say heightens the risk.

A description of The Chair fence on grandnational.org.uk says that upon jumping a 6ft wide ditch and scaling a 5ft 2in fence, the turf on the other side is raised by six inches.

"After having stretched to get over the ditch, horses are surprised to find the ground coming up to meet them. This is spectacular when horses get it right and, for all the wrong reasons, when they don't," it reads.

Read more: Campaigners call for jump-racing ban after three horses die at Aintree

While animal rights campaigners claim around 200 horses are killed every year on British racecourses, they point to the Grand National as the worst example of the sport.

They have called for jump-racing to be banned and "much more stringent" safety measures in the sport after three horses died at this years 175th annual Grand National.

Animal Aid horse-racing consultant Dene Stansall said: "Jump-racing must be banned to prevent the brutal horrors seen today at Aintree and this week, from happening again.

"Innocent race horses' lives taken from them in the name of entertainment and gambling.

Aintree, the worst of all racecourses, is a disgrace and the Jockey Club and British racing should hang their heads in utter shame at what we have seen over the past three days."

What do supporters of horse-racing say?

Julie Harrington, chief executive of the British Horse-racing Authority (BHA), said: "No one will be more affected by this news than the trainers, owners and stable staff who have provided these horses with first-class care and attention throughout their lives.

"The BHA and Aintree racecourse will now analyse the races in painstaking detail, as is the case every year, to build on our existing data and help us understand what caused these incidents.

"As a sport we have for years shown great determination and commitment to improve welfare standards by taking measured scientific, evidence-based, regulatory and education-based steps.

"It is for this reason that the fatal injury rate in the sport has reduced by over a third in the last 20 years, to 0.2% of runners.

"We respect the right of anyone to hold views about our sport but we robustly condemn the reckless and potentially harmful actions of a handful of people in disrupting the race at a time when horses were in the parade ring.

"Those involved in British racing are rightly proud of our sport and the role it plays in providing an unparalleled quality of life for horses bred for racing. Love and respect for horses is at the heart of everything we do."