McKelvey Dies After National Race!

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DreamerII

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Just copy and pasted from the BBC reactions to this years Grand National on BBC 606 thingamy

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Some sad news to bring you - McKelvey, ridden by Tom O'Brien for Peter Bowen, died after the race. He came second in 2007.

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It's such a shame!

Especially after all the coverage he's had.

Was just reading the apparently he got injured last year and the vets wanted to have him PTS but the trainer was dedicated enough to keep him and it was the first time he'd run and everything.
 
Just saw him being saddled and booted before the race. What a pity.
Have to say i was more disappointed by the death of In the High Grass yesterday though. Such a shame. Hopefully everything else has come back safely.
...Good race though!
 
Sleep brave old boy,
Thy race is run.
With no more earthly kin yourll mingle:
dream of Race course tracks youve won.
Of noble steeds and Epic deeds
and bookies left with out a Jingle..

RIP McKelvey 1999-2008

Its the Lass i feel sorry for.
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Such a shame,my horse had a tendon injury but never went back to eventing because we knew the speed would kill. He started dressage and went on for many ,many years.
Surely last year he tried his heart out and didn't deserve this.
Never watch the race now , where there's money and animals there will always be cruelty.
RIP, you deserved better
 
McKelvey's deathwasnt related to hs previous tendon injuries. it was an accident whilst running loose - he didnt fall - he unseated his rider so injury was after his exit from the race.

Worse news- Mick Fitzgerald (the eldest jockey in this years race) has been admitted to hospital for further inverstigation of a spinal injuru sustained at the 2nd fence from Kelami 9 i think). Fingers crossed he gets positive news.
 
Who,as the human race,do we think we are to decide the fate of defenseless animals?
Mckelvey was near fatally injured in the GN in 2007,in fact the course vet advised "destroying" him there and then.
If Mckelvey had have been a no hoper that probabley would have been the case,but he finished second in the "race", thus sealing his fate.
A decision was made to try to nurse Mckelvey back to health.That was achieved and rightfully so.
But the investment made in achieving that goal was not for the benefit of the horse but for the self gratification of the people involved with Mcelvey,maybe,maybe,just maybe he could win the 2008 GN.
Mckelvey should have been retired,the risks involved in putting him through another GN were as plain as nose on his face.
How can the horse racing fraternity be so callous?
Someone should be prosecuted.Peter Bowen,Mckelvey's Trainer, should hang his head in shame.
I take a very cynical view in the events leading up to the death of Mckelvey.But sometimes cynicism uncovers the truth.
 
Nobody intended the horse to die - it was an accident plain and simple. Yes I agree, he had run his race last year and shouldn't have been in this year BUT his death was not AT ALL related to last years injury - it was pure chance, happened whilst he was a loose horse, not when being ridden, and could not have been predicted.
Also very sad to here about Mick and I hope the news is good for him, hes a great jockey and after 2tough falls in 2consecutive days lets hope he recovers well.
NO horse or jockey deserves to get hurt - but that is the sport, it is NEVER planned or intended - it is an ACCIDENT.

Look at the number of deaths in eventing in the last 2years, both horse and rider. And look at the number of horse deaths in the fields....3 of my friends lost horses in the field this year already.

The race years and years ago was bigger, tougher and faster and yet fewer deaths....it is not the race or the way it is ridden that has got tougher in my opinion..it is the inbreeding of the thoroughbred weakening their bones....just my opinion.

Once again, yes a HUGE HUGE shame that McKelvey died in the national, but cruelty is defined as intentional harm or deprivation...it was not intentional. The horse clearly loved his job, and carried on running without his jockey and jumping for fun (his ears were pricked at one point). I think a few "do gooders" need to grow a pair.

*runs for cover*
 
It was a very sad death and I am sure that connections are devasted. Peter and his wife Karen are very nice people who DO love their horses!
I backed the horse last year as I thought he had a chance and the same this year too.
Of course I am sad that he has lost his life.
But I don't agree with the opinion that he should not have raced in this year's equivalent.
Horses do come back from injuries including serious ones and those involving the tendons and some can go on to win big events.
I am sure that the horse would not have been entered had the vets not agreed that it was safe to do so.
Also incidentally as someone has already pointed out his death (pts) was as a result of an accident whilst running loose and not attributed to his former injury.
His loss is sad and I do feel sorry for all his connections though.
RIP little lad x
I also have to say that I hope Mick Fitzgerald is not too badly injured after his tumble which did look an awkward fall. I hope the injury is an uncomplicated one and does not force him into retirement as it was not so long ago that he was talking about such matters and was ready to hang up his boots.
I wish him a speedy recovery.
Caroline
 
Shall we have Jamie Grey shunt up a bit to allow room for the trainer, owners and all concerned in the stand? I galloped a four year old who then dropped dead 15 mins later due to heart problems caused by redworm problems-was this cruelty in your opinion? Said horse had been wormed regularly. RIP Jumbo
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WORSE NEWS? I couldn't care less about the jockeys. They choose to race. Do the horses have a choice? NO! They are chosen. And before you say 'they race naturally'. I know, but not to this extent. Inresponse to other posts, I agree that McKelvey shouldn't have been raced again after the injury last year. RIP Mckelvey, you will be remembered.
 
Well as glosterimage said, he really looked to be enjoying himself when galloping and jumping loose. And since when his accident occurred he was "racing naturally", his death was just that - an accident - and nobody's fault.
I know just how devastated a trainer and yard staff are when te death occurs of one of their horses and its harder still when people start attributing unfair blame on them. RIP McKelvey
 
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Shall we have Jamie Grey shunt up a bit to allow room for the trainer, owners and all concerned in the stand?

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best b getting an extra trailer on the band waggon too, M
 
FFS I get fed up with people going on about callous trainers, McKelvey's injury could so easily have happened if he was running free in a field. His groom will be absolutely gutted after nursing him back to health so people on here have no right to compare her or the trainer to JG.
 
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FFS I get fed up with people going on about callous trainers, McKelvey's injury could so easily have happened if he was running free in a field. His groom will be absolutely gutted after nursing him back to health so people on here have no right to compare her or the trainer to JG.

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um, i think you'll find that myself and Mairi were actually refering to the others on here who are suggesting that..

hence Mairi's comment about JG making room in the dock for the trainer etc.... to be tried by a kangaroo court such as this...
 
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FFS I get fed up with people going on about callous trainers, McKelvey's injury could so easily have happened if he was running free in a field. His groom will be absolutely gutted after nursing him back to health so people on here have no right to compare her or the trainer to JG.

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Have a re-read, I was being ironic! I dont for a moment think that the trainer and co should be 'had up'. Im just getting a bit fed up with all the 'fluffy bunny' attitudes that seem to be on the increase. A horse has to earn his oats one way or another and sadly sometimes they get hurt while doing so. I cry for them too, but life isnt always how we would like it to be. Mairi
 
I agree Mairi. I love the sportof horse-racing, but am shocked by how many people who compete in other disciplines see racing as callous and cruel! The horses these people hack out or showjump or event arent making the "choice" to hack etc either - so how people can criticise racing for "forcing" horses to do unnatural things is quite ironic. So many hypocrites Im afraid.
 
indeed, glenruby..

the same hypocrites who over rug 24/7 52 wks, over feed, under exercise,...etc etc etc
 
Here here!! Fluffy bunny lovers are on the up and in their attempt to argue for the "good" of the horse they are failing to realise if racing didnt exist then neither would the thoroughbred. They fail to realise that these horses love what they are doing - just look at their faces, that moment where they prick their ears when they see the jump, they love what they are bred to do.
Agree with Mairi - horses have to earn their oats. does that make me cruel saying that? I adore my own horse and would do anything for him, and adore all the horses i work with, but that doesn't stop me from eventing them because that is what they are there to do.
Also the relationship that the lads and lasses have with these racehorses is strong and I for one am heartbroken for what McKelveys lass/lad as well as trainer and owners must be feeling right now.

hmm that turned into a bit of a rant i'm afraid, but i am SO fed up of the same old debates coming up on here, with the same old blinkered responses from so called animal lovers.
 
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Here here!! Fluffy bunny lovers are on the up and in their attempt to argue for the "good" of the horse they are failing to realise if racing didnt exist then neither would the thoroughbred. They fail to realise that these horses love what they are doing - just look at their faces, that moment where they prick their ears when they see the jump, they love what they are bred to do.
Agree with Mairi - horses have to earn their oats. does that make me cruel saying that? I adore my own horse and would do anything for him, and adore all the horses i work with, but that doesn't stop me from eventing them because that is what they are there to do.
Also the relationship that the lads and lasses have with these racehorses is strong and I for one am heartbroken for what McKelveys lass/lad as well as trainer and owners must be feeling right now.

hmm that turned into a bit of a rant i'm afraid, but i am SO fed up of the same old debates coming up on here, with the same old blinkered responses from so called animal lovers.

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well said..

i know there are always going to be folk who cry at "bambi" movies, and some who don't, but this forum is becoming an off shoot to Animal Aid....i would put a bet on that 99% of the people who have donned the sackcloth and ashes over this horse wouldn't have been able to pick him out from 20 ..let alone been remotely involved as was his lad/lass trainer and owners..

i get upset when my horses die..but life goes on doesn't it
 
If I wanted to read the likes of the fluffy bunny posts that have been popping up here of late, Id join one of the many many extremist animal rights websites out there. I hope HHO dosnt continue in this manner!
 
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