ITV have been slammed by viewers for their post-race coverage of the Grand National following Broadway Boy’s nasty fall.
Nick Rockett, a 33-1 outsider, beat I Am Maximus to win the Grand National but some ITV viewers were furious over the lack of immediate updates on Broadway Boy, who was leading before falling heavily on his neck at Valentine’s Brook, a 5ft high, 7ft wide fence with a 5ft 6in brook on the landing side.
Both Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen, who pulled up after jumping the final fence before collapsing, were immediately treated by vets on the course and were subsequently able to walk into a horse ambulance.
Tom Bellamy, the jockey of Broadway Boy, was taken to hospital, while jockey Micheal Nolan has been suspended for 10 days over his decision to not pull up Celebre D’Allen sooner.
In the aftermath of the race, ITV presenter Ed Chamberlin spoke about the ‘welfare’ of the horses competing in the Grand National whilst viewers were shown the winning horse, Nick Rockett, being cooled with water in a shaded area.
‘The winning horse has gone to be cooled off, they have amazing protocols in place here,’ Chamberlin said during ITV’s broadcast.
‘Fans, in the shade there, all the water that’s needed, because it is hot this afternoon.
‘It’s all prepared here, there’s been a lot of talk about the welfare and no stone being left unturned.’
However, Animal Aid have hit out at ITV’s coverage and described Chamberlin’s commentary as ’empty marketing slogans’.
Iain Green, director of Animal Aid, said: ‘Following Broadway Boy’s horrific fall in The Grand National this afternoon, the racing industry’s silence was deafening.
‘The public witnessed Broadway Boy fall on his neck and waited anxiously to hear if he was okay.
‘Instead of providing an update, the industry spouted empty marketing slogans about the ‘welfare’ of race horses – nothing more than myths and lies.
‘What the public witnessed today was the horror that is The Grand National – innocent animals being forced to run for their lives on a cruel course designed to punish them – animals becoming injured in the pursuit of profit – and resounding negligence from the very industry that is supposed to care.’
ITV provided its first update on Broadway Boy over 30 minutes after the race had ended with Chamberlain saying before an ad break: ‘Jockey’s all absolutely okay.
‘Broadway Boy and Celebre D’Allen are being assessed on course by expert veterinary teams. Further updates will follow in due course.’
Providing a further update before the end of ITV’s broadcast on Saturday afternoon, Chamberlin added: ‘Both horses are being treated at the minute. I don’t think we’ll be able to update more than that before we go off air.’
But viewers were unhappy over the length of time ITV took to issue an update on Broadway Boy.
@ryan_wain wrote on X: ‘ITV commentary overdoing it on how much care the horses get after the race but absolutely no mention of Broadway Boy, the horse that fell and stopped moving. If you want to do transparency, you can’t just pick and choose the bits you’re transparent about.’
@gggg92476 wrote: ‘ITV should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. Race leader Broadway Boy suffers a really bad-looking fall and no update at all for many minutes afterwards. Just the usual pish about the emotion – and even worse, how great horse welfare is. Just hope somehow he is OK.’
@Bertrambobcat wrote: ‘I have followed racing since the 70’s but have too admit watching that fall from Broadway Boy and ITV racing not giving us an update is awful.’
@TrueGunnerUK wrote: ‘I haven’t posted in a long time but what makes me sick about horse racing is the lack of coverage on the welfare of horses. Broadway Boy took a sickening fall out in front in the Grand National and we hear nothing about it on ITV. Stop hiding away from it and be transparent.’
@DionMayhew wrote: ‘Imagine a driver leading the F1 for 75% of the race before horrifically crashing out, it would definitely be mentioned, but no word from ITV on Broadway Boy at all ? Think we’d all like to know how he’s doing.’
@taylaf03 wrote: ‘If I hear ITV mention one more time about how well the horses are looked after but refusing to acknowledge/provide an update on Broadway Boy, heart-breaking & sick to my stomach. Clearly not any safer is it the jumps need to stop.’
@GeorgesHorses_ wrote: ‘Fantastic protocols after the race ITV said. No mention of Broadway Boy. Gloss over it and hope it’s not mentioned.’
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