HORSE RACING legend Gai Waterhouse has torn into protesters in light of the Grand National chaos and declared: “Most of them are on the dole.”
The world’s most famous race was delayed almost 15 minutes and 118 protesters were arrested at Aintree last Saturday.
Waterhouse slammed the ‘woke’ protesters and said they know nothing about racing
One of the Grand National protesters is led away by police at Aintree
Devastated trainer Sandy Thomson blamed the ‘idiots’ who stormed the track for the death of his horse Hill Sixteen.
Now iconic trainer Gai Waterhouse, 68, has waded into the dispute and said the ‘woke’ agenda is a ‘load of rubbish’.
Waterhouse – who once starred in Doctor Who – is one of Australian racing’s biggest names and has had runners at Royal Ascot.
Protesters have targeted the Melbourne Cup for years – but Waterhouse’s comments carry added weight in light of Aintree.
She told Racenet: “Most of these protesters are on the dole, they don’t understand the sport.
“In this woke age we live in, everyone has to abide by this word of woke. It is a load of rubbish.
“We need to stand up and say this is a very vital sport that employs millions of people around the world.
“With all sports, there are casualties. I don’t care if you are a footballer, there are casualties – and horse racing is no different.
“Racehorses are treated as athletes and they are trained accordingly.”
Waterhouse previously called on those inside racing to stand up for it, highlighting the love and care horses receive from owners, trainers and yard workers.
At a function in Sydney last week, she said: “People have become so weak and prissy nowadays, instead of being strong and loving the industry that we love.
“They [protesters] shouldn’t be allowed at the races.
“No one says anything about car racing or water polo or high diving. There are casualties in all those sports.”
Racing supporters were left with ‘tears in their eyes’ reading what Thomson said about Hill Sixteen.
The horse sadly fell at the first fence and suffered a fatal injury.
Thomson said he rushed over to the horse and told him he ‘was so sorry for him and thanked him for everything he did for us’.
On Twitter, he added: “Thank you so much to everyone for such a huge outpour of love and sympathy for us all having lost Hill Sixteen.
“We are all completely devastated and it will be felt on the yard for a long time.
“He was a wonderful gorgeous horse who was so loved and cared for by everyone.”
