The British Horseracing Authority has “strongly condemned” the “reckless” protests at Saturday’s Grand National.
A total of 118 people they were arrested after animal rights activists – demonstrating against the staging of the race – delayed the start by climbing the Aintree course.
Three horses died during the three-day meeting, including the national runner Hill Sixteen.
The BHA says it will analyze the races to understand what caused the deaths.
Animal charity the RSPCA called on UK horse racing’s governing body to “review the circumstances of each of the sad deaths at Aintree so that we never again leave a ‘festival of racing’ with three dead horses”.
In a statement, BHA chief executive Julie Harrington said: “The BHA and Aintree Racecourse will now analyze the races in minute detail, as is the case every year, to take advantage of our existing data and help to understand what caused these incidents.”
He said improvements in welfare standards had seen the death rate in the sport cut by a third in 20 years to 0.2% of runners.
Four horses died at the Aintree meeting last year, including two injured at the Grand National, which is the climax of the annual race meeting.
There have been five deaths out of 395 riders in the 10 Grand Nationals contested since the safety changes were introduced in 2012.
Two other horses in this year’s National – Recite A Prayer and Cape Gentleman – were treated on the course and taken by horse ambulance for further assessment, while Dark Raven was put down after a fall in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle before Saturday.
And on the first day of Thursday’s meeting, Envoye Special was killed after a fall when running loose over the Grand National fences in the Foxhunters Chase.
“Protests will not diminish National’s enduring international appeal”
The National started 14 minutes later than the scheduled start time of 17:15 BST due to protesters gaining access to the track.
The 118 arrests also include those made before Saturday morning’s race and in relation to a protest which blocked the M57 motorway.
Climate and animal rights group Animal Rising, which claimed on social media that its supporters entered the track to delay the race, said 42 people were arrested and five were released, with 68 detained .
However, there has still been no update from Merseyside Police on Saturday’s arrests.
“We respect anyone’s right to have opinions about our sport, but we strongly condemn the reckless and potentially harmful actions of a handful of people in interrupting the race at a time when the horses were on the parade track.” Harrington added.
“Those involved in British racing are rightly proud of our sport and the role it plays in providing an unrivaled quality of life for racehorses. Love and respect for horses is the heart of everything we do.
“The Grand National is and always will be an iconic sporting event and the actions of a small number of people will do nothing to diminish its huge and enduring international appeal.”
Animal Rising said its actions “are aimed at preventing” the deaths of the horses.
“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to anyone connected to the Hill Sixteen or affected by its death,” the group said.
“Equestrian deaths and injuries are an inevitable consequence of the way we use animals for sport.
“The only way to prevent further harm from coming to these beautiful creatures is to completely reevaluate our connection to them and find a way to love them that doesn’t put them in harm’s way.”
Animal Rising also said they would welcome dialogue with Hill Sixteen trainer Sandy Thomson and owner Jimmy Fyffe about “how to move forward together and really transform our relationship with horses and indeed with all animals and the nature”.
