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

Chub, that's another argument. I doubt any of us who hate the GN would want the meat industry to operate as it does, either.

It is FAR HARDER for most people to rail against buying food cheaply than it is for them not to place bets on a devastating horse race.

That doesn't make it ok but it's not the same.

Thanks for the flowers Zukie, no need made me feel better though.

So the winner's being 'retired'? Does that mean the poor fecker has been injured more than just a cut?

I fucking give up, I really do. Nothing will change these people's minds, will it?Roll on next year, party fans. You can do it all again with another poor creature.

Synchronised ran at the beginning because he wanted to run and McCoy was holding him back, he was later seen looking relaxed.

Did anyone else see the horse that refused to jump? That's what happens when a horse doesn't want to take part, they can be stubborn creatures.

Neptune is probably being retired because he's eleven years ok'd which is old for a GN horse.

My thoughts are with Synchronised and According to Pete's team, both beautiful, athletic creatures.

Why are you putting retired in inverted commas?

Presumably she thinks he's going for glue. I doubt that is the case, he's worth a fortune for his semen.

No I don't think the winner was any more whip-injured than Sea Bass probably was tbh. Just an interesting announcement. Let the horse go out on a high note?

"retired" to a farm.

Yes that right seeker

They are going to shoot a national winner and sell him for meat

Because I was quoting? I don't have a clue what it means.

Nothing would surprise me TBH.

Sadly more horses were killed at chaltenham this year then there was today (5 i think).

Sadly horse racing is down to money for most people (the owners, trainers and many of the people there watching), the owners of the dead horses will get a hefty insurance pay out and the horse will be replaced with another.

Oh ok - it means they won't race him anymore. He's worth a fortune - he's in no danger of going for meat

Don't be silly sparkling. There is no way they would do that. Apart from anything else he's worth a fortune. He's worth just having in a field. The trainer will be having his business cards reprinted with "trainer of Neptune collages" at this very minute.

"Presumably she thinks he's going for glue. I doubt that is the case, he's worth a fortune for his semen."

Only if they thought to freeze some before he was gelded....

Hold fire a moment, the articles I've seen are FULL of stuff about how wonderful he is, the 'best horse they've ever raced in the National, he's done this and that etc etc and suddenly they're retiring him?

Doesn't make sense to me. I hope it doesn't mean what I thought it might mean. They didn't retire Ballabriggs after he won. And 'he'll never race again. That's it' sounds like something you would say after a significant injury.

Alright, I didn't know he was a gelding. Even so as I said, he's worth having in a field to point at.

..and if they did, they don't need him anyway...

What will they do with him now then if he can't race?

Maybe they think he's reached the peak of his career and have no wish to race him again

yes Synchronised won the Cheltenham Gold Cup a few weeks ago one of if not the top prizes in jump racing. He wasn't expected to win to be honest but he did. Super horse this loss is devastating. I am hearing he actually was ok after fall but ran loose and then fell again? Not sure reports are unconfirmed at moment
According to Pete sustained injuries when brought down but I don't know the nature of those injuries other than that they proved fatal.

Shoot him, just like they did Red Rum of course

There are retirement homes for former working horses. I visited the one on the Isle of Man for the former tram horses (the horse trams still operate) and they are extremely well cared for.

Are they such places for retired racing horses, and does the industry contribute?

I will be writing to Aintree Racecourse to ask some questions. I do feel the grand national has failed this year as they have not lived up to all the changes they agreed to put in place.

If you guys would like to do so you can register a complaint www.aintree.co.uk/forms/contact/?d=10 and please don't spam with insults as it means questions will not be taken seriously.