A second horse has died on the second day of the Grand National at Aintree.

Get On George was put down after it pulled up in the second race of the final day of the festival.

The horse was quickly dismounted on course by jockey Jack Tudor and was assessed before the decision was made to put the six-year-old horse down.

It is the second horse death at this meeting with Gold Dancer put down after winning the Mildmay Novices’ Chase on Friday, 10 April.

Get on George was contesting the William Hill Handicap Hurdle but pulled up after losing his action around the bend.

Gold Dancer. Credit: PA Images

The death toll at the Aintree Festival has now risen to 69 horses since the year 2000 according to Animal Aid figures with 17 of these deaths occurring after racing in the Grand National.

Emma Slawinski, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Year after year we see horses dying at Aintree for people’s entertainment and a cheap bet. Sadly, Get On George is yet another victim of this heartless spectacle which flies in the face of animal welfare.

“The public and businesses should boycott the Aintree Festival, refuse to bet on the racing, and stop watching the TV Coverage and advertising which glosses over the animal cruelty.

“The government needs to act as the British Horseracing Authority and Jockey Club is prioritising gambling profits over the lives of the horses.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “It is incredibly sad to hear of the death of a second horse, six-year-old Get On George, at this year’s Grand National Festival at Aintree.

“His tragic death is the 43rd competitive horse-racing fatality in the UK this year alone – and it is only April – and the 26th at the Grand National Festival over the last decade.

“The RSPCA continues to engage with the horse-racing industry in the hope of seeing greater safety measures introduced to the sport, and meaningful improvements for equine welfare both on and off the track. Whilst we recognise – and welcome – that efforts have been made to improve safety at the Grand National in recent years, sadly the fatalities on 10th and 11th April indicate these measures are not yet adequately protecting horses from serious risk.”