After watching a thrilling race at Aintree on Saturday, I wondered if it was now time to look at the safety of the course and the horses yet again.
As peeple will now know, a further two horses had to be destroyed through broken bones, after jumping some of the highest fences in modern horse racing. Over the last few years the course has been made safer with the reduction in the height of some of the fences, but i still think more can be done.
Over the last 12 years 23 horses have been killed on the National course. Is this a grotesque price to pay for our " entertainment "? On Saturdays race only 15 out of the 40 starters finished the race. I think as I read this morning that there could be to simple measures. firstly to reduce even further or at least level out the very steep drops on the landing side of the fences, and secondly to reduce the number of horses that take part. this will help to stop other horses bringing others down when jumping.
The wonderful Gold cup winner Synchronised was sadly another statistic on Saturday. Last years race also had two horses killed and there was widespread calls for a review of the risks to all taking part.
I would not support a ban on this great race but would like to see sensible things done that would make it safer. Bechers Brook is one of the most notorious of these very high and dangerous fences, and the landing areas are facing downwards which makes it harder for the horses to land safely. The chief executive of the RSPCA seems to understand the need when he said this morning " excitement and drama, yes, death and suffering, no ". I agree 100% with that sentiment.
I would like to add that i am no horse racing fan, and that the National is the only race I usually watch on the telly.
I wonder if others here have any views on this.
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The Grand National
Thinker, tinker, tinker.
I listened to a piece to camera by a retired jockey which I think is a quite reasoned approach to the issue.
He said that the so called safety measures introduced so far by those 'experts' called upon to opine on the matter is actually the cause of the problems now faced by the course. He went on to say that, as the jumps are now lower, the horses can approach at higher speed which is the cause of the fatalities this time round.
I profess no expertise. I have never bet on a horse in my life. I merely report what I heard.
I listened to a piece to camera by a retired jockey which I think is a quite reasoned approach to the issue.
He said that the so called safety measures introduced so far by those 'experts' called upon to opine on the matter is actually the cause of the problems now faced by the course. He went on to say that, as the jumps are now lower, the horses can approach at higher speed which is the cause of the fatalities this time round.
I profess no expertise. I have never bet on a horse in my life. I merely report what I heard.
Sex God
If alterations are the cause of more suffering to the horses then perhaps the only alteration that can be made is cancellation
Sex God
i used to bet every year and the horse i bet on was always one that was put down
so this year i thought i'd be clever and bet on two horses :doh:
like staggs says the best form of action for the grand national would be cancellation
so this year i thought i'd be clever and bet on two horses :doh:
like staggs says the best form of action for the grand national would be cancellation
Sex God
I did advise people not to bet on the horses that would be lamed or killed, the race was proof that the so called safety elements introduced are not safe and never will be because the whole racing world know that what makes the National is the danger just lime motoracing, how many people watch that for the crashes more than the performances ?
Personally I won't support it by betting on it or by watching it on TV, listening on the radio etc.
Personally I won't support it by betting on it or by watching it on TV, listening on the radio etc.
I voted for it to carry on but be made safer, i hope thats what they do and that maybe they get help from the RSPCA aswell as other "experts".
I voted on it and watched it on tv, same as i have done for many years now except last year.
Its not the only unsafe horse race so maybe every type of horse racing should be looked at ?
I voted on it and watched it on tv, same as i have done for many years now except last year.
Its not the only unsafe horse race so maybe every type of horse racing should be looked at ?
Quote by MidsCouple24
I did advise people not to bet on the horses that would be lamed or killed, the race was proof that the so called safety elements introduced are not safe and never will be because the whole racing world know that what makes the National is the danger just lime motoracing, how many people watch that for the crashes more than the performances ?
Personally I won't support it by betting on it or by watching it on TV, listening on the radio etc.
Unfortunately you forgot to advise us which horses they would be!
:giggle:
Unfortunately you forgot to advise us which horses they would be!
Quote by Max777
I did advise people not to bet on the horses that would be lamed or killed, the race was proof that the so called safety elements introduced are not safe and never will be because the whole racing world know that what makes the National is the danger just lime motoracing, how many people watch that for the crashes more than the performances ?
Personally I won't support it by betting on it or by watching it on TV, listening on the radio etc.
Unfortunately you forgot to advise us which horses they would be!
Sex God
Here is what the Telegraph say
Quote by Bluefish2009
Here is what the Telegraph say
the article makes valid points blue.
i am not for stopping the race but i feel that the race could be made safer than it currently is. that being said of course other horses die in other races throughout the year.
the national is a great institution but it needs to try as hard as possible to make it a great sporting event, and not to be remembered for the deaths of horses at the side of one of those very high fences, as we seem to witness every year. in fact one of the sad indictments of this race is that some of the worst fences now has " escape " routes to the side so as to avoid jumping them when there is an injured horse still laying there.
that to me indicates a knowledge that there is a huge probability of injured horses at that race. that surely cannot be right, can it?
Essentially it is a personality driven point.
You need to accept that during the Grand National (or any other horse race - but specifically this one as it is the topic of conversation), that one or more horses is going to die.
You need to accept that if that race did not go ahead, then in all probability that horse would still be alive tomorrow.
You need to be honest with yourself and face your own morality by saying either:
I accept that;
or,
I don't accept that.
It is really easy. The issue is not with the Grand National, it is with those people who have trouble challenging their own values or choose to look the other way when their own morality is brought into question.
You need to accept that during the Grand National (or any other horse race - but specifically this one as it is the topic of conversation), that one or more horses is going to die.
You need to accept that if that race did not go ahead, then in all probability that horse would still be alive tomorrow.
You need to be honest with yourself and face your own morality by saying either:
I accept that;
or,
I don't accept that.
It is really easy. The issue is not with the Grand National, it is with those people who have trouble challenging their own values or choose to look the other way when their own morality is brought into question.
