Dead horse at Aintree today

I too agree that he looked off at the second last jump. I suspect the injury occurred there and that was the reason for the near fall at the last. His action behind had gone and I find it hard to accept that the jockey wasn't aware. However, I equally think whatever he did he was going to get hammered so he continued. Was it right, absolutely not, do I understand why he carried on yes. It looked awful and it was unforgivable and far worse than the young jockey at Fakenham!
 
bonny said:
Would it have made much difference to the horse if he had been pts 10 seconds earlier ?
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I don't know but it might make a huge difference to the way racing is viewed and the way that other horses would be treated subsequently. It really matters. 10 seconds...perhaps GD was feeling the injury, perhaps not but it is sickening that a horse with a broken back, having had a very serious stumble/failure to jump safely, was whipped over the finish line. In 10 seconds the jockey could have recognized the potential injury and pulled up. That would have been humane, putting the horse first. I think that is the difference that 10 seconds could have made.
 
He was probably going to be pts regardless but id have rather seen him be pulled up after sprawling, than whipped 3 times during a drive to the line running an extra 200m or so. Yes adrenaline may have been masking it, but its the whole overall picture and the events leading up to his pts that makes this so unsavoury
 
Yes, the pts was inevitable either way. But I'd rather some humanity and respect was shown to the horse. I think however much adrenaline was involved the horse was still in pain as evidenced by his very peculiar gait, and I think it makes a difference that the end of his life wasnt spent being whipped while in pain.
 
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Crazy_cat_lady said:
He was probably going to be pts regardless but id have rather seen him be pulled up after sprawling, than whipped 3 times during a drive to the line running an extra 200m or so. Yes adrenaline may have been masking it, but its the whole overall picture and the events leading up to his pts that makes this so unsavoury
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Think we would all agree with that with hindsight but we really are talking about seconds, to make a decision and act on it.
 
minesadouble said:
I've watched the video shown on this thread and from the clip there is little difference between the action of the winning horse and that chasing it, the second didn't even really look to be closing the gap.
When I read the comments saying the jockey would have known I was expecting a real difference in action.

I'm not for one minute downplaying what a tragedy this was but I don't think we should be laying so much blame on the Jockey.
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I have to agree with you. He took some odd high steps with his left hind but then there wasn’t a huge change in action. I can’t imagine that being very easy to feel on a galloping horse full of adrenaline. It’s bloody tragic and the most awful situation, but I don’t think the jockey needs hanging for it
 
Having watched that clip, there's no way in a million years that a jockey who has spent as many hours atop galloping horses as he has, didn't know there was something catastrophically wrong. If he had the time and mental awareness to draw his whip, he had time to pull the horse up. A sickening spectacle.
 
Whether PT knew the horse had gone wrong or not, or knew and pushed on regardless thinking it wasn't anything much, or knew and thought "f it - I'm in for a win". The non-trier rule needs looking at if the horses' welfare is the primary concern. I think too many horses are pushed far too hard, because the jockeys don't want to be up before the stewards for not riding for the best possible placing. Horses are so honest, they'll keep going past the point of harm to themselves.
 
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