Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The Grand National. When will they stop this cruel race for human entertainment?

115 replies

BL0B · 11/04/2026 07:00

I can’t believe it’s still going on. Drugged horses, deaths, whips, bloody dangerous jumps. Then sent to the abattoir when they’re not performing anymore

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
musicalfrog · 11/04/2026 14:13

Really upsetting pictures on the internet today of a poor house with a broken back. Not the GN but they are all awful.

I hate jump racing with a passion.

MrThorpeHazell · 11/04/2026 14:01

And how many racehorses would be put down as a result?

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 11/04/2026 07:39

Parky04 · 11/04/2026 07:30

The horse racing industry in the UK generates around £4 billion pounds annually. It's not going anywhere!

Show quote history

No, unfortunately it is not, not whilst humans profit from animal exploitation in the name of 'entertainment'

CinnamonBuns67 · 11/04/2026 07:39

It'll stop when people stop watching it, stop attending it and stop placing bets on it. Unfortunately that isn't going to stop anytime soon, it's still very much popular. I haven't watched it in about 9 or 10 years when I realised how awful it is.

JeremiaBoogle · 11/04/2026 07:36

I think it's unlikely horse racing iwill be banned anytime soon. (Presuming you mean horse racing in general and not just the Grand National.) Quite simply because it's a multi-billion euro industry. It supports a lot of jobs, and is deeply tied to culture in some countries. Very unlikely there would be a ban in something the rich and powerful are involved in - even if you suggest it to the average person who just like a quick flutter once a year, you'll find general attitudes aren't even in that headspace.

Through the growing pressure from animal welfare concerns might see tighter regulations. And to be honest this has already happened, I think if the Grand National upsets you now, you'd be horrified to have experienced it 40/50 years ago. The fences have been made less challenging, the number of horses reduced and there's tighter rules on whip use. Also qualification and vet checks are stricter.

MikeRafone · 11/04/2026 07:33

Horse racing takes place all year round, ascot and Cheltenham.

yet it’s this one big race that gets these annual posts, yes it’s a bigger race but this does happen all year so why not the posts about other horse races

OneBusyFinch · 11/04/2026 07:30

Link didn’t post -

www.league.org.uk/what-we-do/protect-animals/horse-racing/

OneBusyFinch · 11/04/2026 07:30

LlynTegid · 11/04/2026 07:17

Make sure you don't watch it on whichever channel it is on today. Lobby the political parties who come seeking your vote in local elections, even though it is not a local council responsibility, say you want their party to make it policy to end it (no long horse races, no high fences).

This ^^ - plus join the league of cruel sports and actively support them.

End Horse Racing | The League

Although hugely popular with the general public, horse racing results in a high number of injuries and fatalities. Find out what we're doing to stop this.

https://www.league.org.uk/what-we-do/protect-animals/horse-racing/

Parky04 · 11/04/2026 07:30

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 11/04/2026 07:15

Agree OP, four horses died at the Cheltenham Festival this year too - a despicable, cruel industry which needs to be abolished. Greyhound racing too.

The horse racing industry in the UK generates around £4 billion pounds annually. It's not going anywhere!

whereareallthegods · 11/04/2026 07:22

Agree op. It’s not “sport” it’s animal abuse that people pay to watch and profit massively from. Dreadful.

Notashamed13 · 11/04/2026 07:20

Have a look at the website racehorse deathwatch, its not just the Grand National that you need beef with - horses die every day across the country at the races - regardless of length of course, going, flat/hurdles.

Statistically GN is probably one of the better races.

And I just want to put it out there that I do not agree with most of the bullshit that PETa spout from their arses.

JacquesHarlow · 11/04/2026 07:17

No problem @BL0B we’ll shut it down for you.

We just need you to pay £60m to the city of Liverpool to compensate for the loss in revenue generated each year.

We’d also need you to go round to all the horse racing bodies to dissuade them from setting up a similar long distance flagship race somewhere else or even outside the UK in Ireland.

LlynTegid · 11/04/2026 07:17

Make sure you don't watch it on whichever channel it is on today. Lobby the political parties who come seeking your vote in local elections, even though it is not a local council responsibility, say you want their party to make it policy to end it (no long horse races, no high fences).

IDespairOfTheHumanRace · 11/04/2026 07:15

Agree OP, four horses died at the Cheltenham Festival this year too - a despicable, cruel industry which needs to be abolished. Greyhound racing too.

Pugglywuggly · 11/04/2026 07:14

When it stops being profitable.

Swipe left for the next trending thread