To be dreading the grand national on Saturday?

[annabanana84]

once again the grand national has come around, and to say I despise it is an understatement. The fact that people race these poor horses for entertainment and money really defies belief. The way those poor horses get whipped, exhausted and there is not a year goes by that we hear of deaths or the animals having to be put to sleep because of them breaking their necks, backs, or other injuries. I so dread it. You can't even get away from hearing about the deaths because it's broadcast on every news programme.

You can see in the picture there that the horse is not stressed

If it was, you would see the whites of it's eyes

relaxed

stressed

Thankyou.

Thanks for putting up the links catgirl, I couldn't do any on my phone!

I have to say, as much as I am defending jump racing as not inherently cruel I am nervous about this afternoon and really upset about Little Josh yesterday.

I don't know why this afternoon makes me more nervous than any other day, I suppose it's the build up and the popularity

With you on that one catgirl. I had a chat with my colleagues about the race yesterday and several agreed with me that the race is walking a fine line these days. I will defend racing as a sport till my dying breath, but after the last few years I'm becoming more uneasy about the GN.

Hey Frankel - afre you in Newmarket or Lambourn? I was born in one and raised in the other and my dad's from Naas, bet you can't guess which industry he spent his whole life working on from the age of 15?

I'm in Newmarket, but from a non-horsey West Country family. One of my old boyfriends was from Naas

Aw its just the loveliest accent isn't it? My dad was apprenticed on the curragh, I went over for the Irish Derby a few years back and met loads of people who still remember him, He's 74 and retired now. His father before him was a jockey as well, and two of his brothers are trainers (one in oz) and his other brother still in the industry

Well, I'm going for Seabass and Balthazar King. But everyone getting round safe and sound is my main hope for today.

I agree with you Frankel that I am getting more and more uneasy about the GN

I've gone for Imperial Commander, On his own, Chicago Grey and Oscar Time for my outsider. Ive taken the prices on all of them.

DH has gone for Imperial Commander

When 16 mo DS wakes up from his nap I will hand him a crayon and the paper and let him pick

Hoping and praying they all get round in one piece. Used to watch the race, not so keen now. I've gone for Sea Bass (come on Kate!) and Threefortea. Ds has gone for Ninetieth Minute and On His Own. Dh is too tight to bet. You'd think we bet the mortgage, we only bet 50p each way!!!

We are horse owners. My husband suggested we put a bet on for the race. I suggested we put a bet to see how many horses would die this year. I don't think he will suggest it next year.

Jumps have been lowered & material changed for this years race so hopefully all horses will get round safely.

Not had a punt as non of the names appealed this year, have Soll in the work sweep though.

All runners and riders returned safe and sound.

Best result possible

Great news

Good old Harvey

Barred. That's good to hear. I had been wondering about the course and what changes may have been made.

But Battlefront and Little Josh did not die in the GN

And Battlefront had heart attack

Fantastic race today. Lots of finishers all back safely nothing for anyone to criticise today. Well done Aintree!

Bless The Rainbow Hunter the loose horse hat finished second, he looked like he was having fun, jumping all the fences and out front for a lot of it

What are you campaigning for Zukie (genuinely interested)

Better welfare, a ban on the GN, National Hunt banned, all racing banned, all equestrian sports banned, keeping horses full stop banned?