To hate the Grand National

[Lucyinthepie]

Well, I do anyway. To quote a discussion on another forum, here's why:
"A total of 35 horses have died at the Grand National since 1999. That means an average of 2.5 horses per year/race. This does not compare to any other equine event held in this country."
There is no other sinlge competetive equine event in the whole of the UK where the horses entered have such a statistically high chance of meeting their death, on the same day every year.
The stats for the whole of racing are bad enough, and there are arguably some callous practises in the industry, where the animals are largely treated as disposable commodities. But, leaving that aside for now - this race - not worth it.

(Don't tell me the owners love their horses, maybe some do, but in my experience working as a groom on a racing yard for a year, the majority think they have some great investment. If the horse is lame they are more worried about when it will race again than the welfare of the horse. They'd be lucky to be able to pick their horse out if it was in a field with 10 others and not wearing their colours).

" feel 100 times more repulsed by the death of horses in the name of sport than I do about the advertising of formula milk for infants, for instance."

Well said bibbitybobbityhat

B4Beatrice, I am really, really, trying to talk about the incidence of death and serious injury in the Grand National. I don't think there is any justification for continuing this race other than economic.

I did find some stats earlier on that indicated that the death rate in horse racing was appreciably higher than in other equine competition, but I can't find it at the moment and will have to go in a minute to attend to more mumsy matters.

I hate it and will not watch it.

'Winning the GN is like winning Wimbledon, it isn't all about money'

The contestants at Wimbledon are all there of their own choice. These horses don't have that choice.

I was going to post the same thing myself. I really hate the grand national.
It's all for money, the cruelty is horrible, and it makes me so angry every year.
Especially all the publicity for it. Horses are dying each year all for a bet.
The race is too long and fences are too high.
I'm a veggie too so I see it from that standpoint but really you don't have to be a veggie to have animal compassion.

exactly expat
they are conditioned to run the race

actually shame on MN for having a sweepstake too!

perhaps you miss my point Jajas ?

"Browncoats I've worked in racing, I jump BS, do county level workers and yes, I am quite happy to state I know what I am talking about. And I certainly wouldn't buy a pure TB for a showjumper or worker. Very few people would. Your'e talking through a very large hole in your head"

Wow, then you've totally out-horsed me!!! I bow to your superior knowledge.

There are plenty of TB showjumpers. I'm honestly a bit baffled that you consider TB only good for racing. But hey ho, you say you know what you're talking about.

Great! Let's see them race 4 miles and jump over 30 hedges with a person on their back whipping them with a crop and then and see if they find it all such a national treasure then.

Now that I'd pay money to see.

Look, best AIBU I've started ever. I even had someone having a real pop at me and trying to talk down to me and accuse me of not knowing what I'm talking about. Brilliant. However, real life calls. Thanks very much for all of the contributions. Hopefully MNHQ will feature this thread as an antidote to the other one?

(I'm still reeling from the idea of thoroughbred horses becoming extinct if the racing industry ceased. I'm glad that their amateur riders don't realise what useless creatures they own. )

Haven't seen many players being shot dead at Wimbledon.

Did you have a point PaWithABra?

cornsilkily

of course

(I'm still reeling from the idea of thoroughbred horses becoming extinct if the racing industry ceased. I'm glad that their amateur riders don't realise what useless creatures they own. )

trainers owners and riders if your horse dies because of a disgusting race then you deserve to die a horrible drawn out painful death you are murderers so are the people that put bets on you also deserve to die you should be beaten to ndeath by animal rights its about time someone destroyed aintree beyond repair you are disgusting repulsive morons

Ummm, ok Charleneanne, thanks for the ahem...helpful contribution there

This is the first year I've ever really paid attention and I'm glad I didn't bet this year. I never will again. There is really no need for this "sport", bear baiting, dog fighting, cock fighting etc are all banned because they are cruel to the animals and imo so is horse racing.

Those poor horses, I've been crying looking at the picture in the daily mail of one of the horses very last moments, he must've been so scared! They all must be :(

Lucy, Im sure death rate is higher in racing. However is it still higher if you multiply the deaths in other disciplines by the difference in numbers of competitive animals, the number of days racing compared to the number of competition days for other disciplines, the number of race meets per day compared to the number of sport horse competitions per day, and by the number of racehorses racing per day compared to sport horses?

Im not saying im definatly right. Although how would you know? There is no other sport where death must be declared (and I presume you are including death from injury, ie putting a horse down). There is no way to track the amount of deaths in other disciplines, especially when they leave the show ground, because nobody is required to give notification.