Big Broadway boys come home after falling down in big country horror, racing breathes
Broadway Boy and Jockey Tom Bellamy
His contacts announced that the Broadway boy suffered a major fall while leading the Great National on Saturday, but “going home.”
Very pleased with the sport, Aintree's vet gave the seven-year-old a green light to return to his journey to Grange Hill Farm in Gloucestershire. People feel very anxious after millions of spectators wince as Nigel the foot trainer leads the race.
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Veterinarians and staff rushed to the scene and after watching closely overnight, he drove south through a horse ambulance on Sunday to continue his recovery. Sam Twiston-Davies, another runner on stable, Beauport, the son of coach Nigel, wrote on X that the Broadway boys were “stiff and sore, but were all well home this morning”.
Nigel's other son, yard assistant Willy Twiston-Davies, added: “Thank you for all the lovely information, and more importantly, thanks to all the vets at Aintree. The Broadway boys were loaded into horse ambulance and returned home. All of us at Grange Hill Farm have a special horse.”
Viewers immediately expressed horror in the fall Saturday, with animal rights activists catching the incident, criticizing ITV for failing to give enough coverage. The Broadway Boy is one of two runners, and despite many welfare leadership improvements in the course in recent years, medical care is still required. The eliminated Celebre d'Allen also managed to walk to the horse ambulance and return to the horses.
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Broadway Boy’s jockey Tom Bellamy also attracted attention, but after widespread attention on the scene, officials later confirmed that Bellamy was “taken to Arnterry University Hospital for further evaluation.” Later, he broke his wrist in the autumn.
Safety measures to limit horse death and injury in Aintree have never been greater, although two years ago, when animal rights protesters were given the chance to the course, the race was postponed by 15 minutes, resulting in more than 100 arrests.
There were no delays on Saturday, and the 34 horses set off at 4 p.m. – an earlier start time was introduced as part of new safety measures. The race was won by Nick Rockett, ridden by jockey Patrick Mullins and trained by father Willie. This year, only one horse died during the festival’s three days, Willy de Houelle, riding by former national champion Rachael Blackmore, got stuck in a hurdle on opening day.
The horse is making “good progress” according to Johnson White, co-coach of Celebre d'Allen. He told Telegram Movement: “It's all very positive news. He's made great progress overnight. He's now an hour away from Aintree's yard where his owner has horses so he can rest and recuperate instead of five hours of travel in the van. It's all very positive.”
