Gold Dancer, a seven-year-old horse trained by Willie Mullins, had to be euthanized after suffering a broken back during the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree. The horse initially appeared fine after crossing the finish line under jockey Paul Townend, winning by four lengths, but collapsed when pulled up.

The tragedy occurred on day two of the Grand National Meeting, with screens erected immediately as veterinary experts assessed the injured horse. Owners Gigginstown described the incident as 'terribly sad,' noting that Townend had felt fine during the race but something was clearly wrong when the horse stopped. The broken back proved fatal despite immediate medical attention.

Animal welfare advocates condemned the incident, with League Against Cruel Sports chief executive Emma Slawinski calling for a boycott of the Aintree Festival and ITV coverage. She criticized the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club for prioritizing gambling profits over horse welfare. This marks the latest in a series of fatalities at Aintree, following the deaths of Willy De Houelle and Celebre D'Allen at last year's festival.