GREAT BRITAIN: Miss Horsfall Dissents

It's a dangerous course at the best of times, But on days like this some jumps are crimes.

—Right Royal, by John Masefield

Most Britons agree with their Poet Laureate that steeplechasing is at best a perilous pastime, though few of them think any the less of it for that. Last week, however, an increasingly vociferous minority rose up to damn the ancient and respected sport. They were shocked by the death of four stouthearted thoroughbreds during this year's running of the Grand National at Aintree, steeplechasing's most famed race.

"A slur upon...