BBC in Grand National ‘cover-up’: Two horses lie dead... but fury as TV commentator just calls them ‘obstacles’ - 10th Apr 2011

Two horses died during yesterday’s Grand National in one of the most ‘distressing’ races in recent history.

Millions of TV viewers saw Ornais fall at the fourth fence, breaking his neck, while Dooneys Gate broke his back minutes later at Becher’s Brook.
It meant that for the first time in the race’s history the two fences were bypassed during the second circuit of the Aintree track – as the horses were hastily screened off with tarpaulins.

But the BBC was accused of a ‘cover-up’ after commentator Mick Fitzgerald described the dead horses as ‘obstacles’.

The former Grand National winner made the remark while discussing how chequered flags were waved as jockeys approached the 20th and 22nd fences, which they were required to bypass because the dead bodies had not been removed.

Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘The thing is, you know there is an obstacle ahead, that’s what these chequered flags tell you.’

One viewer wrote on the corporation’s own website: ‘I’m amazed that the BBC coverage pans over the tarpaulins on the re-run and the commentators just talk about “obstacles”.’

Another said: ‘And the BBC – shame on you. No mention of what’s happened, even when there’s 2 dead covered horses on screen.’ Read More