Grand National meeting.

Janique said:
I can't watch it either, just reading the comments is hard enough....

The horses finished walking.....
The winner nearly collapsed from exhaustion....
Another horse walked in the ambulance..

Meanwhile, the owners clueless and uncaring carry on drinking champagne....

I always feel sorry for the lads and the lasses of the injuried horses, they do love the horses but the owners and trainers, i don't think so.....
As for the punters, they don't give a shit.
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That's really unfair. The connections of CA stood at the end of the course the entire time he was being treated clearly immensely concerned for his well-being. One of them had their arm around his lass.
 
they probably travelled all the other horses home yesterday so using the trailer there. A horse ambulance isn’t like our ambulances…it’s basically just got lower ramps and support systems which he will need if he is sore rather than going up a steep ramp.
If he wasn’t able to leave, he would be going to Liverpool equine hospital. He is sore obviously, but well enough to go home to recover.
 
It’s great news about Broadway Boy, though I too am rather boggled by him going home in the horse ambulance.

It takes a brave jockey to pull a horse up mid race that is simply not travelling well, rather than being obviously injured.

The stewards are so keen not to offend the punters and the betting industry which funds the whole shebang that they will demand to know exactly why a horse is pulled up. This makes it more likely for jockeys to keep going rather than to pull up - who need the post race hassle?.
 
Tiddlypom said:
It’s great news about Broadway Boy, though I too am rather boggled by him going home in the horse ambulance.

It takes a brave jockey to pull a horse up mid race that is simply not travelling well, rather than being obviously injured.

The stewards are so keen not to offend the punters and the betting industry which funds the whole shebang that they will demand to know exactly why a horse is pulled up. This makes it more likely for jockeys to keep going rather than to pull up - who need the post race hassle?.
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If he needs cross tying I’m sure it’s better to spend the money to get him home as slowly and comfortably as possible. Would you rather he went up a lorry ramp than a very low option?
And you can’t have it all ways, that no one cares about the horses and then complain when they go the extra mile for his wellbeing.
 
Tiddlypom said:
The stewards are so keen not to offend the punters and the betting industry which funds the whole shebang that they will demand to know exactly why a horse is pulled up. This makes it more likely for jockeys to keep going rather than to pull up - who need the post race hassle?.
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Rather picking on you today, sorry!, but Michael Nolan got a 10 day ban for continuing surely that’s not the stewards ignoring it?
 
Clodagh said:
If he needs cross tying I’m sure it’s better to spend the money to get him home as slowly and comfortably as possible. Would you rather he went up a lorry ramp than a very low option?
And you can’t have it all ways, that no one cares about the horses and then complain when they go the extra mile for his wellbeing.
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I don't think anyone is implying that he shouldn't be, rather that it might be a bit premature to say it's great news that he's ok.
 
I can't stand the comments on social media.

The abuse anyone gets for saying they want it banned.

Even if you support racing, it is not difficult to understand why people do not want to see these animals falling over fences, stumbling around at the finish, overheating etc.

It isn't an extremist view to believe animals should not be used in sports where money is undoubtedly the main motivator.

The reality is, most years at least one horse will die over the three day festival. These horses are entered into these races knowing that the chances are, someone's horse is going to die.
 
Jenko109 said:
I can't stand the comments on social media.

The abuse anyone gets for saying they want it banned.

Even if you support racing, it is not difficult to understand why people do not want to see these animals falling over fences, stumbling around at the finish, overheating etc.

It isn't an extremist view to believe animals should not be used in sports where money is undoubtedly the main motivator.

The reality is, most years at least one horse will die over the three day festival. These horses are entered into these races knowing that the chances are, someone's horse is going to die.
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No abuse but money is the motivator behind all top level sport.
 
lannerch said:
What upsets me most is how many people on social media ( not here ) seem almost upset no horse has died in the national this year . ( this certainly includes all the gutter press and a lot of anti racing supporters).
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That's exactly what I was thinking. Instead of celebrating the achievement the headlines were all about the fallers.

I agree that my heart sank when I say Broadway Boy's awful fall and was relieved that he is well enough to go home.
 
There’s a huge outcry in the equine industry about blue tongues in dressage (and rightly so), but horses collapsing of heat exhaustion in the national and taking horrendous falls doesn’t seem to alarm horse people as much (judging by a lot of the comments on social media from horse people defending the national).

I’d be interested to know how many of the general public who vilified CDJ on social media put a bet on the national.
 
Clodagh said:
If he needs cross tying I’m sure it’s better to spend the money to get him home as slowly and comfortably as possible. Would you rather he went up a lorry ramp than a very low option?
And you can’t have it all ways, that no one cares about the horses and then complain when they go the extra mile for his wellbeing.
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I would not travel him yet anywhere yet. Travelling is stressful.

All credit to the on course vets for saving him after his fall.

Clodagh said:
Rather picking on you today, sorry!, but Michael Nolan got a 10 day ban for continuing surely that’s not the stewards ignoring it?
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The stewards did do the right thing this time, but they are very much aware of who pays the bills.
 
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Clodagh said:
Rather picking on you today, sorry!, but Michael Nolan got a 10 day ban for continuing surely that’s not the stewards ignoring it?
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I think the point was did michael Nolan (and others in other races) push their horses too hard because the fear of punishment from not trying is greater than the fear of punishment from pushing a too tired horse, I'm not in racing so I don't know what pressures are put on jockeys, I just want them to feel that they can make in race decisions for the horses welfare free from any negative repercussions.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I would not travel him yet anywhere yet. Travelling is stressful.
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Sorry for picking on you, but how can you state this when you have zero real knowledge of the horses current condition and his ability or not to travel, and whether on the balance of probability it would be more or less stressful to the horse to be at or away from home?
 
scats said:
There’s a huge outcry in the equine industry about blue tongues in dressage (and rightly so), but horses collapsing of heat exhaustion in the national and taking horrendous falls doesn’t seem to alarm horse people as much (judging by a lot of the comments on social media from horse people defending the national).

I’d be interested to know how many of the general public who vilified CDJ on social media put a bet on the national.
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There is a difference between the two. The BHA are actively trying to make improvements for the welfare of the horses, whereas the FEI and co. are actively ignoring the problem.
 
I think the betting is a problem - is don't watch much horsey stuff anymore bar racing especially now badminton and burghley are paywalled, but if someone had a run out or refusal there, they will often pull up and save for another day but there's no expectation on them bar their own

If you have a dodgy jump racing if still in contention, you are still expected to continue because otherwise you'll be held to account by the stewards, because there's potentially vast sums of money been placed (I'm glad they've stopped the betting man on itv celebrating the amounts, often hundreds of thousands, put on at the big festivals, i know the people doing it can afford it but it was sickening especially in a COL crises)

It's a shame the jockeys can't be given more autonomy over when they pull up.

Celebre absolutely walked over the 2nd last, and wasn't in contention yet he still tried to make him take the last, ban should probably be bigger especially as it led to him collapsing, after the 2nd last he should have pulled him up
 
ihatework said:
Sorry for picking on you, but how can you state this when you have zero real knowledge of the horses current condition and his ability or not to travel, and whether on the balance of probability it would be more or less stressful to the horse to be at or away from home?
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The horse’s connections have stated that he is to be travelled home in the horse ambulance. Hardly surprising after yesterday.

From that I am extrapolating that the horse is still less than fully well.

Not a quick hop, it’s Nigel Twiston Davies’ yard, isn’t it? Near Cheltenham.

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Beausmate said:
I don't think that's fair. The vast majority of owners and trainers care very much about their horses. A lot of punters, especially on "celebrity" races like the National are pretty clueless about the behind the scenes part of it, but most of them want to see all the horses back safe, not just the one their money is on.
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bonny said:
That’s Forever Young and

Anyone reading this could be forgiven for not knowing that we ride horses, jump them, make them go in endless circles, jump massive fences etc etc
We use horses for sport, if you don’t agree then campaign for it to stop but for now it carries on and today should be about the racing.
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Ok, maybe, i was a bit too hard in my comments and i realise that some owners and trainers do care.

The one caring the most are the lads and lasses they really love their horses.

I used to work in NH in France in a big yard, one winter in Pau, the ground was terrible and the horse I was leading broke his shoulder at the water jump.

He kept going for a while, his leg hanging in a terrible way, it was sickening. I ran like mad and managed to catch him.

The jockey David Cottin was ok and the trainer came on the track, the horse was put down on the spot.

It's a terrible feeling to walk back to the stable with only a bridle in your hand....

Since that day, i couldn't work there anymore and althought i can understand people love racing, i just can't stand it anymore.

Glad that Broadway Bai is ok and well done this his lass who stayed with him all night.
 
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