The Grand National :D

BlizzardBudd

BlizzardBudd

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i do love this race :) the large powerful horses :D

really wanted Choc Thornton, Ruby Walsh or AP Macoy to win :D
Piraya is a gorg grey too, but probs doesnt have too much chance at its odds. love the one in the white bridle too :D


really happy for Ballabriggs and jason Maguire winning though :p

who did you guys bet on/want to win??
 
I picked the winner!
He jumped like a stag, and even after that mistake near the end he picked up for the remainder...
Gutted to see two horses down though. Certainly one looked gone, saw the boards around the other :/
 
Always a tough race you either love it or hate it. But horses can be lost or ill treated anywere. So i do stop for a bit and watch it very sad for any that are lost.
 
Apart from the race, itself, the funniest part was Richard Pitman calling Hedgehunter, Hedge C*nter!! He'll doubtless get some stick for that little gem!!

Two horses lost their lives. Sad, but part of jump racing. RIP and my condolences to those who cared for the fallen on a daily basis, they will be heartbroken.

Alec.
 
Congratulations to the winners, and huge condolences to all connections of the horses that didn't make it:(

On another note entirely, I feel we should all write to the BBC to strongly encourage more shots of Sam Waley-Cohen with his top off;)
 
MagicMelon said:
How can you love it? 2 horses dead. That make it worth it?
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No, it doesn't make it worth it, it's the risk we run, when we climb onto the back of a horse.

I see from your sig pics, assuming that it's you, that you event. Am I right? Do you not run the risk of a fatal accident, every time that you go across country? It's the same thing.

Alec.
 
Brilliant race :) and I picked the winner :) Condolences to those connected to those that didn't make it.

Remember last year, tho one that refused to budge off the start line? Just a little reminder that you can not make these animals do anything they simply do not want to do ;)
 
Very sad that two horses died, but it was a cracker of a race, they were well spread out and there were no "pile ups" as have been seen in recent years (especially at the Canal Turn) and a lot of the horses were blowing along pinging the jumps easily...

RIP Donney's Gate and Ornais

Nice to see Claire Balding offering commiserations to all the connections of both horses afterwards
 
I love wathching the Grand National and all the buildup to the race.
I backed the 2nd Sam Waley-Cohen on Oscar Time which ran a brilliant race.
So sorry for the 2 horses that died, and their owners and trainers.
Unfortunately it happens in National Hunt racing but these are equine athletes and as such are given the best of everything.Better to go doing something they love than up to their necks in s--t!! and uncared for as happens to many poor horses.
 
MagicMelon said:
How can you love it? 2 horses dead. That make it worth it?
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i have to say that i don't like racing because it does seem to cause quite a few deaths, however eventing is the reason i ride, so i can't really say anything. I can understand why people say they love the national and everyone will have a view on these things, but probably in reality neither eventing nor racing, nor many other sports are any more cruel than each other. they all involve a certain amount of risk.
 
To be fair the national is higher risk than eventing most years do have at least one fatality, it is very unsual for any horses to die at badmington but obviously there is still a risk.

That said I love the national, I do sometimes wonder though if the qualification is difficult enough as it is often outsiders that are the fatatlities ( I know not always ) I must confess though I have no idea of the previous form of the horses that did not make it though.
 
from what I have seen both horses had rotational falls.... one broke its back and the other its neck.

RIP Onasis and Doonies gate
 
sleepingdragon10 said:
***** yeah, wholeheartedly second, third, and fifty-fourth this;):D
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Absolutly agree :D

I was shocked at the number of photographers/press on the track at the end of the race. They just wouldnt get out of the way!!!!
I really dont think that they should be there. They were activly hindering the jockeys way to the weigh in, until the police horses arrived.
Surely they shouldnt be milling about when people are trying to do a job? Especially such an important one as cooling these horses down quickly!!!!!!
I usually like Clare Balding, but she was interupting people who were talking and dragging them over for an interview.
I felt it tarred the end of the race somewhat.
 
Spudlet said:
Congratulations to the winners, and huge condolences to all connections of the horses that didn't make it:(

On another note entirely, I feel we should all write to the BBC to strongly encourage more shots of Sam Waley-Cohen with his top off;)
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^^^^^^ this!
Was great to see Ginger slating his son! lol but great ride given by the winner.
Shame about the horses that died-never easy to watch that:(

Ground looked firm and the pace was quick? wonder if it had been a bit muddier might have slowed them down a bit?

Sam Waley-Cohen- helping racing become very popular on TV methinks?;)

knockandy said:
Absolutly agree :D

I was shocked at the number of photographers/press on the track at the end of the race. They just wouldnt get out of the way!!!!
I really dont think that they should be there. They were activly hindering the jockeys way to the weigh in, until the police horses arrived.
Surely they shouldnt be milling about when people are trying to do a job? Especially such an important one as cooling these horses down quickly!!!!!!
I usually like Clare Balding, but she was interupting people who were talking and dragging them over for an interview.
I felt it tarred the end of the race somewhat.
Click to expand...

The press were totally stupid? could get into bother preventing him weighing in surely?
I thought Clare was a bit rude, but then thought a few of the racing presenters are going this way these days:rolleyes:
 
I'm afraid I'm a wimp and don't watch the race anymore.... But that's my choice, let's face it, as much as I personally don't feel comfortable with it, these horses are bred for this job and it goes with the territory. The daily mail is running a Headline article that has made a lot of emphasis on The falls and protesters etc. The photos are sensationalist to say the least.
It's so sad about both horses, sympathies to all those connected to them.
 
Not many horse die AT badminton, but there are a large number that don't event again.

I event, not making any statement, other than the facts.

People die every year climbing Everest, and we are blessed with the intelligence and independence to stop when we feel necessary. The National is the greatest challenge these horses will ever face and those that compete do so in the pursuit of what they are trained, bred, and love to do.

That said, I'd never let one of mine run! But mine are currently sleeping soundly in their cotton wool blankets dreaming of morning carrots.
 
Will you ever Kop on to yourselves, Peter Toole is in a critical condition in hospital tonight after a terrible fall in the previous chase, I wish him a speedy recovery.
Yes its very sad that two horses died in the national but after all they are ANIMALS!!!
I work in racing and I know for a fact that racehorses when in training are looked after alot better than most happy hacker horses, and how many horses break legs in field/hunting/teamchasing????
My heart goes out to the lads/lasses of Ornais and Droneys Gate, the horses looked fab in paddock before the race. Its the worst feeling in the world going back to an empty box.
 
knockandy said:
I usually like Clare Balding, but she was interupting people who were talking and dragging them over for an interview.
I felt it tarred the end of the race somewhat.
Click to expand...

That's what she gets paid to do, the BBC only have a certain amount of time to fill so I doubt presenters will wait! It's the same at other events, wait for Badminton in a couple of weeks. It can be uncomfortable to watch but these people are in the public eye and its Clares job to get as much info as she can for the viewers....simples, surely! ;)
 
I have just read through this thread and watched a replay. I am sick beyond words. TWO horse dead, not through accident, but because of sheer and utter greed. The cheers from the crowds continuing to get louder and more excited as two horses lay on the ground in agony - awaiting their final fate. The organisers did not even have the decency to remove the lifeless body of Ornasis, but instead left him wrapped in tarpaulin for all to see. Nor did the BBC show Dooney's Gate an ounce of dignity as they panned their aerial camera over the screens that were supposed to give the horse some privacy. A commentator said: "Majestic Concorde unseats its rider." Not him, but it! Ballabriggs and several of the other finishers could barely walk because they were as exhausted. Brilliant race? It was anything, but brilliant. TWO HORSES DIED and a number of others on the verge of collapsing after they had finished!! Oh well, at least Ornasis and Dooney's Gate went doing something they loved. Oh wait, they went doing something YOU loved!!

A Grand National of disgrace is what it was.

Rest peacefully poor horses. This includes Inventor who perished on Thursday at Aintree.
 
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