do you like horse racing ?

Could I PM you in that case?

I honestly want to know- the photos of unging and stuff make me worry.

Back on topic - I have never been to the races - but love watching the national on the telly- who doesn't! 8D
 
Dizzy socks said:
Oh, okay, maybe sweeping generalisation - sorry.

I didn't enjoy 2011s race, but thought last years was brilliant.

Are you against all racing, or just the GN?
They should definitely cut down the number of runners.
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I don't really want to discuss it DS, because I think that the OP is probably a troll who started this thread purely to get an argument going. I'm not keen to reward them. I realise I shouldn't have posted in answer to your question if I didn't expect a comeback, but I hope you'll forgive me ducking out at this stage.

It's a really complex subject on multiple levels and not one to provide entertainment for a bored poster.
 
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SMF your spelling and grammar is irritating the hell out of me.

Maybe you should be spending your time taking evening classes learning to spell.
 
cptrayes said:
I don't really want to discuss it DS, because I think that the OP is probably a troll who started this thread purely to get an argument going. I'm not keen to reward them. I realise I shouldn't have posted in answer to your question if I didn't expect a comeback, but I hope you'll forgive me ducking out at this stage.

It's a really complex subject on multiple levels and not one to provide entertainment for a bored poster.
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OK - I'm fine with that! Don't think I have enough BG knowledge anyway!
 
You could ask the same question about all horse sports really. There are good and bad points to every sport involving horses just as there are good and bad yards and good and bad owners :)

I do have to say I having a giggle at SMF having the audacity to post all over the forum including not getting your goods from Derby House another infamous bad seller and not answer her customers on here, Facebook and email but having the cheek to talk about trolls after her statement to H&H mag. I'm sure all those unhappy people clamouring for a reply to you are all trolls especially the ones wanting refunds if their hard earned cash.

Shame on you SMF.
 
I tend to watch the build up then watch the GN on the internet once I know none of the horses have died as I get the best of both worlds. I'm very much pro racing, but the national hits a bit of a nerve with me
Non horsey people/people who don't ride also go to the races to bet which is great as that money finds its way back into british racing and its a good social occasion.
I personally wouldn't say racing is cruel. I'm sure some yards are dodgy as are some dressage/showjumping/eventing/average livery yards but its important to ensure safety for both horses and jockeys, as with any sport
 
EKW said:
Love racing - lead up 2 awesome wee babies to win yesterday.

Hate racing - we lost our long time yard legend yesterday due to an unfortunate gallops injury.
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very sorry to hear about your loss, if its the same horse i think it is then he was a great racehorse and i expect a great person to have around the yard aswell. he came 2nd to a horse of mine in 2009 although another stride or two and he would have won.

like everyone has already said, there and good days and bad days racing. but as also said, the same is for every disipline. racing is just more publisised. (if thats the right word)
 
RE: The GN, I read something very interesting that I would love to hear from any racing buffs about. I read that the old Becher's Brook used to be much bigger on the inside, and smaller on the outside, spreading the field as only the scope jumpers jumped the inside track - whereas since adjusting the fences for safety, Becher's is easier to jump so everyone jumps the inside now if they can... It just made me think that maybe, with all our efforts to improve safety, sometimes we can make things worse without realising it?

RE: Racing in general, I LOVE watching horses run - ultimately they want to be there, or they won't be there! I think there are dark sides to the industry, and the death rate is scarily high compared to say eventing, however I love nothing better than going as fast as we can in the open and flying over fences - if we had ever had competition that could threaten us, Geoff and I would LOVE to race our friends, we're both so competitive. So I can see where the love of the sport comes from - and ultimately I think that both rider and to a degree horse want to be there, so should be allowed to do what they love.
 
Been to Newmarket and viewed top racing yards there, and impressed with what I saw. The staff and horses a liked seemed to love their job.

That said, I don't agree young horses (or any animal) being trained so hard before they are mature (mentally or physically), and often what happens should they not make the grade.
 
showingmadfilly said:
I currently have an ex racer who did 32 races, although I don't agree she should have done so many I fully think she was looked after so I suppose as I say neither for or against it. We all have different ways and as long as they are happy and well kept I don't see the harm.
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Is that all?! My friend's recently retired racehorse raced 104 times over his 8 year career. We retired one from our yard this summer who raced 80 times in his six year career (started as a 3yo when I first started as a groom and retired the same time I left :)). But then Standardbreds are slightly more durable! I hasten to add both horses retired SOUND and in good health.

I LOVE horse racing. Harness racing is my true love, but I'm quite partial to jump racing too (fences more than hurdles). It's personal preference; I know plenty of horsey people that aren't interested in racing at all, and I've heard all the cruelty arguments going. I'm not particularly interested in dressage, or eventing, or polo. I'm sure there are cruelty arguments surrounding those disciplines as well, however I keep my nose out of what other people want to do with their horses. My racehorses (the ones I own and work with) are looked after to the best standard I can offer and I won't race them unless I know they are 100% ready.
 
khalswitz said:
RE: The GN, I read something very interesting that I would love to hear from any racing buffs about. I read that the old Becher's Brook used to be much bigger on the inside, and smaller on the outside, spreading the field as only the scope jumpers jumped the inside track - whereas since adjusting the fences for safety, Becher's is easier to jump so everyone jumps the inside now if they can... It just made me think that maybe, with all our efforts to improve safety, sometimes we can make things worse without realising it?

RE: Racing in general, I LOVE watching horses run - ultimately they want to be there, or they won't be there! I think there are dark sides to the industry, and the death rate is scarily high compared to say eventing, however I love nothing better than going as fast as we can in the open and flying over fences - if we had ever had competition that could threaten us, Geoff and I would LOVE to race our friends, we're both so competitive. So I can see where the love of the sport comes from - and ultimately I think that both rider and to a degree horse want to be there, so should be allowed to do what they love.
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The National fences used to be bigger on the inside as more horses would take the 'Brave Mans Route' on that line than they would follow one another spread across the rest if the fence - the more horses that take off and land in the same place the more of a hole you leave in the ground. The same will happen again in years to come. You can look at any chase fence in te country and you will see the inner is slightly lower down at take off and landing than the outer.
 
I love racing, especially national hunt racing, although I was :( to see Sprinter Sacre pulled up today. Hopefully he will get fixed up and be back soon. At his best he is in a completely different class to the rest.
 
SS came back with an irregular heartbeat. To be honest the ground was against him and I have a sneaky suspicion that he was pulled up so dramatically to avoid actually being beaten. But that's my thought ;-)
 
EKW said:
SS came back with an irregular heartbeat. To be honest the ground was against him and I have a sneaky suspicion that he was pulled up so dramatically to avoid actually being beaten. But that's my thought ;-)
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Bizarrely, I hope you're right. Not sporting at all, but better than him actually being unwell.
 
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