Aintree starts

There were two being looked at Top of the Bill on course but he is up and walking back to the stable and Quais de Bourbon being looked at back at the stables he did get up but looked like he was stood on whilst fallen at the third so fingers crossed for him.
Robbie Dunne has gone to hospital looked like he was rolled on.
Just heard Mr Vango is also being assessed
 
Urgh Mr Vango is being assessed in the stables, they hadn't mentioned him as a concern til now

Quai de Bourbon also being assessed

So not necessarily all fine
 
myheartinahoofbeat said:
And now Paul Townend wins the National. Leaves a nasty taste in the mouth doesn't it?
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Indeed. He is being fêted as a master horseman by those who won money on their bets, which is all they care about.

So did Paul Townend really not know that Golden Dancer was seriously injured underneath him? Of course he knew. And the jockey bounces right back today while the horse is dead and his corpse is likely in the pm room at Leahurst.

He should have been banned and forbidden to ride today.
 
If you go to Racing Post (these pages are free to read) it gives you full results of the National, I don’t think I have ever seen so many fallers and unseated…obviously there are pulled up as well…
Its seems wrong somehow when the fences have been made “easier”, and some still complain it’s to soft, ie some horses are getting into the race who wouldn’t in early times even been entered…Just my thoughts..
I don’t watch anymore like others on here…
 
Marshpiper said:
If you go to Racing Post (these pages are free to read) it gives you full results of the National, I don’t think I have ever seen so many fallers and unseated…obviously there are pulled up as well…
Its seems wrong somehow when the fences have been made “easier”, and some still complain it’s to soft, ie some horses are getting into the race who wouldn’t in early times even been entered…Just my thoughts..
I don’t watch anymore like others on here…
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I don't watch it either. 34 starters and 16 finishers is p*ss poor imo.
 
Not a whether this is right or wrong post, just some wider context stats for anyone interested:

2021 - 40 starters: 15 finishers, 4 fallers, 1 brought down, 20 unseated or pulled up
2022 - 40 starters: 15 finishers, 6 fallers, 1 brought down, 18 unseated or pulled up
2023 - 40 starters: 17 finishers, 5 fallers, 1 brought down, 17 unseated or pulled up
2024 - 34 starters: 21 finishers, zero fallers, 13 unseated or pulled up,
2025 - 34 starters: 16 finishers, 3 fallers, 1 brought down, 14 unseated or pulled up
 
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Grand National 2026 jockey suspended after I Am Maximus wins

Jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell has been suspended for 10 days for failing to pull up Top of the Bill at the Grand National 2026
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
So they suspended one jockey for failing to pull up but it's ok for a jockey to carry on riding a horse with a broken back?
 
Steerpike said:
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Grand National 2026 jockey suspended after I Am Maximus wins

Jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell has been suspended for 10 days for failing to pull up Top of the Bill at the Grand National 2026
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
So they suspended one jockey for failing to pull up but it's ok for a jockey to carry on riding a horse with a broken back?
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Jockeys have a responsibility to ensure that the horse they ride obtains the best place possible, however they equally have a responsibility for the horses welfare. So continuing to push a horse that is obviously tiring and losing touch with the field (especially in jump racing) and is not going to place requires them to pull up and failure to do so will lead to them being called in to the stewards.

Whereas failure to continue to ride a horse forward who is leading, that has jumped the last and is still responsive would have led to the jockey being called in to see the stewards and being suspended.

Paul Townend would obviously have known the horse badly slipped on landing, but the horse regained its footing and continued, he has said he was not aware of how badly the horse had injured itself in that slip until the horse finished and came back to trot at which point he immediately dismounted. Whether you choose to believe him or not the trainer, owner and stewards all seem to, or at very least have given him the benefit of any doubt
 
This is what Paul Townend said yesterday of I am Maximus after he had ridden the horse to victory in the Grand National.

"He is so good and has such an engine. He will gallop to the end of the world for you. I am really privileged. What a horse.”

Just like Golden Dancer who kept on his feet after he’d sustained a fatal injury and who you whipped to the finish line.

Who derives pleasure from watching horses gallop to the end of their world just so that humans can get their kicks and ££££s? Sick people, that’s who.
 
Fred66 said:
Jockeys have a responsibility to ensure that the horse they ride obtains the best place possible, however they equally have a responsibility for the horses welfare. So continuing to push a horse that is obviously tiring and losing touch with the field (especially in jump racing) and is not going to place requires them to pull up and failure to do so will lead to them being called in to the stewards.

Whereas failure to continue to ride a horse forward who is leading, that has jumped the last and is still responsive would have led to the jockey being called in to see the stewards and being suspended.

Paul Townend would obviously have known the horse badly slipped on landing, but the horse regained its footing and continued, he has said he was not aware of how badly the horse had injured itself in that slip until the horse finished and came back to trot at which point he immediately dismounted. Whether you choose to believe him or not the trainer, owner and stewards all seem to, or at very least have given him the benefit of any doubt
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Of course, it's impossible to know but the prize money must have been on the back of the jockey's mind....

Let's say, it's your horse, you suddenly feel he is losing his back end, you immediatly pull up and jump off, that's the difference.

For the jockey, it's not his horse, he rides many different ones and it's only a horse.... He might never see the horse again or ride him, he isn't the one looking after the horse,
he get's his check and walks away....

I really feel for the lad or lass looking after the horse, imagine it's you.... You care and ride that horse every day and suddenly....
 
As I've said either on this thread or the one about Gold Dancer specifically, is what makes it even more unsavoury is the fact PT is so experienced. Hes ridden so many horses and won multiple big races. Yes it wouldn't have made it any better if it was a brand new apprentice or amateur but hes ridden so many big race winners he doesnt need the breakthrough of a big race win (again not that it makes it any better but just doesnt help) and the race GD was pushed for is probably one that isnt even one of the more prestigious races. He should be able to tell that a horse has gone that badly wrong. Yes it was a grade one but I wouldn't say one of the biggest ones. The fact he then won the GN yesterday and hasnt even had a ban leaves a very sour taste in the mouth.

We then have jockeys pushing tired horses beyond their means, Celebre D'Allen was another example last year and he died. In eventing stewards can flag people to pull up if they think a horse is struggling, why cant we have this in racing

I hate the "must obtain best possible placing" because the welfare of the horse is not at the forefront. You see eventers pull up after an error (or some of them at least) or a stop as their chance is gone. There was a jockey who pulled up recently as he didnt think the horse was right, I think it was but id far rather see that then carry on and something happen

But this is where the obscene betting industry isnt a positive, I dont bet however look at yesterday, celebrating that 100k bet put on I am Maximus. That's a disgusting amount of money when there's a cost of living crisis, I know it's probably pocket change to the person. But what if it was I am Maximus who was leading and went wrong, with those huge bets on him, PT did pull up and he was fine. He'd have got slated by the "punters" who lost money. Id far rather see the horse looked after but the non horsey "punters" would slate him

Unfortunately the ones who care most, are the ones who have least say - the lads and lasses. Look at Impaire et Passe lass crying because he was ok.

Out of interest, who's decision is it for a horse to be pts? Obviously some like poor Get on George and Gold Dancer were so far beyond help theres no question what needed to be done, but what about ones who've done a tendon/pelvis - you see some where they try to save them

I dont like how the national connections of placed horses are already talking about coming back next year, always looking for more
 
Tiddlypom said:
This is what Paul Townend said yesterday of I am Maximus after he had ridden the horse to victory in the Grand National.

"He is so good and has such an engine. He will gallop to the end of the world for you. I am really privileged. What a horse.”

Just like Golden Dancer who kept on his feet after he’d sustained a fatal injury and who you whipped to the finish line.

Who derives pleasure from watching horses gallop to the end of their world just so that humans can get their kicks and ££££s? Sick people, that’s who.
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It’s meant figuratively not literally, that the horse wants to run wants to win.

With Gold Dancer the stewards looked at the video footage of the run in after the slip, they looked for signs of the horse not running straight, back end not following true behind the front end and concluded that there were no obvious signs of the horse being in distress.

Unless you know Paul Townend personally that substantiates your post or there is historical evidence of him having committed cruelty to animals then your statement is inflammatory and potentially libelous.
 
Marshpiper said:
If you go to Racing Post (these pages are free to read) it gives you full results of the National, I don’t think I have ever seen so many fallers and unseated…obviously there are pulled up as well…
Its seems wrong somehow when the fences have been made “easier”, and some still complain it’s to soft, ie some horses are getting into the race who wouldn’t in early times even been entered…Just my thoughts..
I don’t watch anymore like others on here…
Click to expand...


You can argue all day about racing, but that is as concrete evidence as you ever get, indisputable in fact that thry are asking too much of horses
 
Fred66 said:
It’s meant figuratively not literally, that the horse wants to run wants to win.

With Gold Dancer the stewards looked at the video footage of the run in after the slip, they looked for signs of the horse not running straight, back end not following true behind the front end and concluded that there were no obvious signs of the horse being in distress.

Unless you know Paul Townend personally that substantiates your post or there is historical evidence of him having committed cruelty to animals then your statement is inflammatory and potentially libelous.
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Having bred tbs i can say they will run themselves to destruction, they are not only bred to be fast they are bred for courage and will run til they drop very often, they can also outrun their own bodies which may break down in the process

Specially when someone us sitting on their back with a whip
 
The stewards need to give their head a wobble if they can't tell the horse had gone wrong, even my husband who only just knows the front end to the backend of a horse could tell something wasn't right. It seems the racing authorities are just trying to gloss over what happened to not make racing look like a death race, they need to realise they can't just carry on regardless and that times change and people are turning against using animals for monetary gain.
Fred66 said:
It’s meant figuratively not literally, that the horse wants to run wants to win.

With Gold Dancer the stewards looked at the video footage of the run in after the slip, they looked for signs of the horse not running straight, back end not following true behind the front end and concluded that there were no obvious signs of the horse being in distress.

Unless you know Paul Townend personally that substantiates your post or there is historical evidence of him having committed cruelty to animals then your statement is inflammatory and potentially libelous.
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Has anyone got an update on Mr. Vango? I have followed the Bradstock horses for years - first with Mark and now with Sarah.

Mr. Vango has been a favourite but I feel that with his form this year that perhaps it was time to retire him - he no longer looked like he was enjoying racing. I just wish they hadn't run him in the National.
 
Fred66 said:
With Gold Dancer the stewards looked at the video footage of the run in after the slip, they looked for signs of the horse not running straight, back end not following true behind the front end and concluded that there were no obvious signs of the horse being in distress.
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Do you not consider their bias?
 
Fred66 said:
It’s meant figuratively not literally, that the horse wants to run wants to win.

With Gold Dancer the stewards looked at the video footage of the run in after the slip, they looked for signs of the horse not running straight, back end not following true behind the front end and concluded that there were no obvious signs of the horse being in distress.

Unless you know Paul Townend personally that substantiates your post or there is historical evidence of him having committed cruelty to animals then your statement is inflammatory and potentially libelous.



But isnt what T. P. Said the truth?
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Fred66 said:
Unless you know Paul Townend personally that substantiates your post or there is historical evidence of him having committed cruelty to animals then your statement is inflammatory and potentially libelous.
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Also, this just irritates me. Nothing TP wrote is libel. We can’t just throw that word around anytime someone is criticised and you don’t like it.

TP did not accuse him of historic cruelty. It is not libel to describe what happened as cruel.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Just like Golden Dancer who kept on his feet after he’d sustained a fatal injury and who you whipped to the finish line.

Who derives pleasure from watching horses gallop to the end of their world just so that humans can get their kicks and ££££s? Sick people, that’s who.
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equinerebel said:
Also, this just irritates me. Nothing TP wrote is libel. We can’t just throw that word around anytime someone is criticised and you don’t like it.

TP did not accuse him of historic cruelty. It is not libel to describe what happened as cruel.
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I said potentially libellous and this portion of what TP wrote is.
 
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