hmmm. Hope you did enjoy the Grand National..

Not very nice pictures. That jockey of number 6, black with red stars down his arms was well and truely squashed, was he ok???
I didn't watch it, as I was out enjoying the sunshine on my horse but its basically a free for all over the first few fences until they are more strung out.
I don't think it is cruel as all the horses love their job, if they didn't they would never have got to the standard they are at and left racing or bumbled along at a lower level.
 
erm.........the horses that don't get to a good standard become one way visitors to the EU, hound feed or "project horses", don't they ??? :confused:

Sorry to sound arsy, but that's how I see it. sm x
 
Personally i dont like it, i understand loads of people love it and i can appreciate that. But i spent the afternoon with my horse and never watched it. I get the feeling its just like oh well its only a horse for some peoples attitudes. But i for one would never want any horse of mine to do that. RIP horses :( x
 
I didnt enjoy this years as much as last years. Last year I bet on the winner while this year he came third...bah. Oh well, there will always be next years GN :)
 
Looking at those pictures made me feel very sick not only for the horses but the jockeys to, but at least the jockeys know what to expect, the horses dont really have a chance when there is so many of them all fallen at the landing side and they are practically jumping onto them :( so sad
 
How wonderful of the Daily Mail to make the picture of the poor horse dying the massive picture on their front page. Disgusting - shows no respect, they wouldn't do that if it was a picture of a person dying. Then again, it's the Daily Mail, maybe they would...

Horses die in racing. It's a fact. 2 could have died in any horse race. But the public don't want to see a picture of it. I am sure some people enjoy horses dying in the National, I really am, because rather than be respectful and pay tribute to the horses that die, they have to rant about it and brng up grizzly pictures that prove what an 'awful' race it is, when really, it's another horse race with the same risks as a 2m hurdle at Plumpton.
 
Its sad, very sad. I love the grand national, but I hate to see the death of horses. However- horses die. All horses die. Take comfort in the fact that these horses die almost instantly. They don't have human emotions- they don't think "oh god, theres a chance I could die in this race". They don't know whats going to happen to them.
Think more for the poor horses who are abondoned, mistreated, beaten, starved- these animals suffer. They know that they are in pain, that they are hungry. They are miserable. These race horses aren't miserable, they live the life of a king. No, I'm not involved in the racing industry but I'm friends with the daughter of the owners of State Of Play, I've visited their yard, aswell as the owner of a horse who ran in the race over the GN fences a few days ago- infact I looked after their yard while they went on holiday. I've visited several top racing yards on my course at uni, I've seen how they live. They are all so, so happy.
Just put it into prospective. I haven't seen you post about the poor horses who are genuinely miserable, hurting, in pain.
 
Actully i did enjoy the race, cracking finish and I won a decent amount on the winner. the jockey on the 2nd horse is deffinalty one to watch for the future too!
 
They are quite shocking pictures. That poor jockey under that horse though - was he ok? Does anyone know who it was?

Nobody wants to see horses die - I say to myself i am not going to watch it but every year I still fins myself watching it. Don't know why really. What I am confused about though is they said Ornais fell at the 4th fence - I thought the only faller at the 4th was Calgary Bay? I am very confused!!! Maybe they just said the wrong name for the horse that fell when they did the replay.

Very tragic - RIP horses. I don't know whether I agree the event needs to be banned though. It's a very tricky one as you could argue that many equestrian events are 'cruel' and we're forcing horses to do what they wouldn't do naturally. I do admire the vets and medics at these events though - the one thing I at leats know is that none of the horses who died would have suffered a long, horrid death. I think, as awful as it may be, those on scene do a fantastic job.
 
Hmmmm its always the same with the bleating on animal cruelty :rolleyes: If I pelted my horse at a jump it didnt WANT to jump then i would eat turf not have a darn good go at it :rolleyes:

We see rotational falls at XC and the odd handstand during SJ as well but I dont see the animal cruelty placards out for that. Yes it is a damn shame when horses fall and are PTS just the same as its a damn shame when perfectly healthy horses break legs galloping about with their herd mates in a field.

People just need a scape goat and they use racing as this IMO
 
teagreen said:
How wonderful of the Daily Mail to make the picture of the poor horse dying the massive picture on their front page. Disgusting - shows no respect, they wouldn't do that if it was a picture of a person dying. Then again, it's the Daily Mail, maybe they would...
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Yes they do, when it's the result of another "person" or people's actions.

I'm still unsure where I stand on racing. I know I detest the wastage the most.

I think this article is good in that racing is romanticised for the average punter, this shows them the facts a bit.
 
Why o why did i have to look!! :( I feel sick!!

Its awful but it will never stopped as there is to much money involed!! I dislike the waste of life tacking the horse up walking it up to its death i would never forgive myself!! imo
 
dotty1 said:
Not very nice pictures. That jockey of number 6, black with red stars down his arms was well and truely squashed, was he ok???
I didn't watch it, as I was out enjoying the sunshine on my horse but its basically a free for all over the first few fences until they are more strung out.
I don't think it is cruel as all the horses love their job, if they didn't they would never have got to the standard they are at and left racing or bumbled along at a lower level.
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I think its part of it if the jockey gets hurt or killed he/she knows the risk, enjoys the buzz, the adrenilin rush and the fame like all dangerous sports ..
The horse???? well no one asked them .... not the best thing to do with the horse you love, mind neither is hacking out on the road and at least there is vet to pts not about hour for the vet to get out ........
 
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Why are people being so naive by comparing the Grand National to SJ or eventing?? :rolleyes:

40 horses and riders charging cavalry style into huge/wide jumps and ditches at 30 – 40mph. How is that like eventing or SJ??

I love going to the races both flat and NH, but I hate the Grand National its an absolute debacle of a race!
 
jhoward said:
Actully i did enjoy the race, cracking finish and I won a decent amount on the winner. the jockey on the 2nd horse is deffinalty one to watch for the future too!
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Same here.

Why should you pick on the National when New Forest ponies get killed most weeks on the roads, many die in their fields, let alone all those that are doomed at the markets. At least while they're racing they live in the lap of luxury, that can't be said for many horses so I think you need to get priorities right if you're going to slate something.
 
the truth is that the "Grand National" is a huge, massive moneyspinner. That's why the fences are not made safer. Which they could EASILY be.

I despair of horse lovers who condone this race. The stress those animals must be under in full flee mode, trying to battle over huge jumps,while that course is simply designed to cause hayhem and drama. To be especially difficult. To get more money. To make some oik somewhere rich.

Anyone who can compare this race with SJ or eventing must be extremely naive and out of touch. It's laughable !!!

I say again, I despair of "horse lovers" who condone this race. Horses should not have to die in the name of ANY sport.
 
Typical Daily Mail :mad: Why would they show a picture of Dooney's Gate during his fatal fall? Very insensitive IMO.


(Oh, and FWIW I do not have a problem with the GN or racing, I love to go racing - I just think the Daily Mail are very insensitive).

It's a fact of life that every living species dies, it is very sad and condolences to all those involved with the 2 horses but at least it happened quickly, they did not suffer for long.

I hope the injured jockey from an earlier race recovers quickly - shame not many people on here seem to care about the jockeys!
 
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i dont particularly like racing but i do watch it every now and again, i watched it today and i appreciate horses die etc but actually seeing ornais fall to the ground and lay their life less and then a tarpaulin over him really got me. and him being reffered to as an obstacle..
 
shysmum said:
That's why the fences are not made safer. Which they could EASILY be.
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Get real for goodness sake, they're a lot safer than some jumped out hunting and not so technically awful as some event fences.

They are cracking pictures though and believe me, the connections will be dissecting the falls just as much to see what went wrong; it's human nature to want to know. DG looked to be gone before he hit the deck to me.
 
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Yes I did enjoy the national and the races before that on all 3 days. So 2 horses died from broken necks they wouldn't have felt a thing and as a previous post about sending young racehorses for slaughter and if I read right waited shivering for a week hearing their companions being shot? (Daily Mail again I'm sure it's Liz Jones that is writing this trash) Which would you rather have??
 
HAHA !!! "Get Real" ???????? Daily Mail insensitive photos !!!

Guys, that is what happened today - the paper is simply reporting the REALITY. How can it be insensitive to photograph a horse dying during a massively publicised race, or would you personally rather not just see ? I want to know !!! I want to know what is being done in the name of racing !

Stop breeding far too many racehorses, and give the ones going a fair chance. If they are "no use", have them shot AT THE YARD, and that'd be the end. If they are of use, fair enough, but the grand national needs a major rehaul. Immediately.

So excuse me while I "Get Real".
 
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Why don't you say a prayer for the jockey critically injured in the race before the national instead of ranting? Get some perspective, this is someones son/boyfriend/grandson. Horses can be replaced - people can't.

Racing will never be banned. It is as safe as it has ever been. Racehorses will continue to be killed and it's very sad, but they live a wonderful life, and horses will continue to die in every sphere everyday.
 
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