Mike Tindall slams animal activists pledging to ‘put their bodies on the line’ to disrupt Epsom Derby and urges zealots to ‘have a look at how well the horses are looked after’ at professional yards
- Mike Tindall has criticised the activists planning to disrupt the Epsom Derby
- He said the campaigners should ‘look at how well the horses are looked after’
Mike Tindall has slammed animal rights activists vowing to cause chaos at the Epsom Derby following an attempt to disrupt the Grand National in April.
The former England rugby star said he wished the activists would ‘go and spend a bit of time at professional yards’ to see how well horses are looked after.
He will be joined by his wife Zara Tindall, daughter of the Princess Royal, at Epsom today.
The late Queen’s granddaughter competed in the London 2012 Olympics, winning a team eventing silver medal, which was presented by her mother Princess Anne.
A spokesman for Animal Rising has said that protesters will attempt to shut down the race in their bid to protect the animals.
Former England rugby star Mike Tindall said he wished the activists would ‘go and spend a bit of time at professional yards’ to see how well horses are looked after
Police arrest an Animal Rising activists after a group tried to storm on to the racecourse at the Grand National in April
The warning came after the Jockey Club, which owns Epsom Downs, was last week granted a High Court injunction against the group, claiming it had made ‘explicitly clear’ it intended to breach security at the Surrey racecourse.
On Friday Surrey Police warned they ‘will not tolerate’ risks to public safety after an Animal Rising spokeswoman told Sky News she would do ‘what’s necessary’, including breaking the law, to protect the animals.
Writing on Twitter, the activist group claimed it was willing to ‘put their bodies on the line’.
When asked if he is hoping protesters stay off the track, Mr Tindall said: ‘Yes, of course.
‘I wish they would just go and spend a bit of time at professional yards and have a look at how well the horses are looked after.
‘I know how well my wife looks after her horses and how much she cares for them.
‘They are like people.
‘I’ve been to AP McCoy’s yard where he’s been having a birthday party for one of the horses.
‘They are treated unbelievably well.
Animal Rising protesters are detained by police at the Grand National. The group has vowed to try and disrupt the Epsom Derby which begins today
‘Unfortunately, tragedy happens in the wild probably more than it does on the track and people forget this.
‘All you can say is I know how well every trainer looks after their horse and every jockey cares about their horse, and you just wish they’d see that a bit more.’
Animal rights activists have pledged to ‘cancel or severely delay’ the Epsom Derby as police brace for disruption.
Writing on Twitter, activist group Animal Rising claimed it was willing to ‘put their bodies on the line’.
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