ACTIVISTS will be demonstrating this Saturday (October 15) at Ascot Racecourse against the "shocking" number of racehorses that have been killed there.

Wearing blindfolds and holding banners stating "don't turn a blind eye to animal suffering," the protestors will be converging on the same day as the richest raceday in the calendar, the QIPCO British Champions Day, gets underway.

An online petition for horse safety, set up by campaign group Animal Aid, has already garnered nearly 140,000 signatures.

It was handed to Racecourse authorities in June this year on the same day that the Queen's horse was killed at Ascot.

But no action was taken, leading to this latest demonstration.

Dene Stansall, horseracing consultant for the animal rights group, wrote on the petition: "It is time the welfare of racehorses was independently reviewed and concerted action taken to stop horses suffering."

Mr Stansall, who will be attending the protest, called the Racecourse's refusal to investigate the number of horse fatalities "cowardly and unacceptable."

He added: "If racehorse safety were genuinely their first priority, then track authorities would not need almost 140,000 people to sign a petition demanding an inquiry into why this venue has the worst record of any flat racecourse in Britain.

"They need to act before more horses lose their lives."

Since Animal Aid began keeping online records, 28 horses have died at Ascot to date.

Nick Smith, director of racing and communications at Ascot Racecourse, said: "From time to time there is representation from animal rights organisations. They are perfectly entitled to express their views and we don't impede their activities.

"They are respectful of crowd flows, in our experience."