The grand national is cruel to horses

[McHappyPants2012]

Alot of the horses will be injured and whipped into going faster, it's also a long race course.

I can't believe people would bet on this event

[fuzzysnout]

Last year two horses died during the race. Since 2000 thirty three horses have died during the three day races which include the national. Please think before you have a quick flutter for fun - do you really want to contribute to this?

[sherocks]

Completely agree.

[gordyslovesheep]

I will be betting on it yes - sorry

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I am a coscientous objector to the Grand National. I dislike horse racing in general, jump racing in particular, and the GN is my bete noire.

I can bore for Britain on the subject of the hideousness of the whole thing.

And I have never forgotten Dark Ivy.

Be warned, it is likely to be very muddy on Saturday so that will only add to the anguish.

[HalfPastWine]

I used to have a bet on it too until a couple of years ago when I became aware of the issues mentioned above. Now I can see how cruel it is and no longer support it.

[Panzee]

YANBU. I hate it. In fact I hate all horse racing.

[BusinessTrills]

Alot of horses

[Jjou]

Oh gawd I hate it. Nobody in work can understand why I won't participate in the sweeps etc. It makes me sick to my stomach, I just can't. Don't particularly like any horse racing but being from Liverpool the National is hard to avoid...

[piratecat]

bloody hell, two DIED last year!??

[Jjou]

Yup

[FeedingTheBirds]

Completely agree.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

I think 5 died the year of Dark Ivy. One of them (may have been Dark Ivy) drowned in the fucking ditch at the bottom of one of the fences.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Oh it makes me so angry I may have to hide this thread.

[MonsterBookOfTysons]

I dislike the grand national for all the reasons above, I would never bet on it.

[Mollieflanders]

I'm far more horrified and distressed by the outfits on show ;)

[HalfPastWine]

@ BusinessTrills I liked that alot !

[ragged]

I dunno. For me it's like bull fighting which I can't object to either. There's the bit I don't like (pushed to limits in occasional race & risky jumping) but the rest of the time those animals live like pampered Kings. The best of all possible care at all times. They lack for nothing. Compared to most livestock, their lives are a wonderful dream.

[HalfPastWine]

Bull fighting, fox hunting, I despise it all.

[piratecat]

i am so shocked and saddened, have just been googling. thanks op for bringing it to my attention, the race is something i remember alot as a kid, but havent thought much of it in recent yrs.

I will certainly try to bring it into conversation. is there a group that campaigns against it.

[fussbucket]

Another anti here, I just hate the whole horseracing industry as it's all about betting, and I'm massively anti-gambling.

[piratecat]

'like pampered Kings', ? they don't have a say or choice in either situation.

[FeedingTheBirds]

You can watch the race that killed Dark Ivy on YouTube. Think it was the 1987 National. It's fucking awful. Makes me so .

[sweetkitty]

YANBU I hated the way the commenters said "an obstacle on the racecourse" no it was a dead horse with tarp over it

Why can't they make the fences smaller, the race not as long and ban whips. I especially hate the whips, it's disgusting those poor horses have run their hearts out, jumped over high fences and then are whipped to the finish line, it's sick.

[HalfPastWine]

piratecat

Animal Aid campaign against it.

[jenfraggle]

The death rate is simply too high, it's barbaric. As a former horse owner, I just don't understand how anyone could put their animals at such a risk