to have had a bet on the Grand National when I'm not sure I approve of the risk to the horses?

[grovel]

The Druid's Nephew at 14 to 1. The race will be on the TV here whether I like it or not.

I hope he's got another 15 years munching grass left in him Surly :)

Your dad must have been in bits when she did go :( 29 is a great age

We all were, im coming 29 this year so she was there even before me. We used to spend saturdays getting her ready and loading her into the box, walking the course, then washing her down and when she got home she would nudge the radio dad had in her stable for him to put the music on. She was part of the furniture. Was so weird not seeing her head poking out of the stable for ages after she went. I used to stand having all sorts of conversations with her and she would shake her head or snort at me.

Aw catgirl, glad your boy is having a good time
29 is amazing Surly!

They are very good listeners Surly ;) I've told mine stuff I haven't told my husband

I've read seedling died?
Also, what about all tyge calatoral damage along the way.the ones that don't makes it t the top or don't want t race.. My understanding is that they may be shot as it costs t keep them.

@26point2miles . I actively campaign for law changes, educate n protest actually. That ok? I also find nothing to lol about on this thread at all given that it looks like a horse may have died.

Horses that don't want to race or just aren't good enough are taken out of racing. It would be wrong of me to say none are put down, but the majority are not. They are rehomed for second careers, some privately and others through one of the major retraining charities. A lot of fillies will be sent to stud but only the best male horses will go to stud.

You can find out more about retraining/re homing racehorses here: www.ror.org.uk

I watched it but doubt I would again. I didn't like it, was so stressful when the horses were falling and then when told one had died though now saying none did .

None died in the National but one did sadly die in an earlier race at the meeting.

Oh dear. Poor horse.

Every racing fatality is a tragedy for those connected to the horse. If you've ever seen a lass/lad after losing a horse then you would know their world has caved in. Vast improvements have been made in racing welfare over the years, though obviously there is still room for improvement.

I've said on these threads many times over the years that though I work in racing (admin, not at the coal face) the Grand National has always made me a bit uncomfortable. I'd be happier if they reduced the field size to 30. You cannot judge a whole sport on one single day, you have to look at it as a whole and the vast amounts of money racing puts into veterinary research and welfare projects.

I absolutely respect other people's right to disagree with my opinions, providing they in turn respect mine.

Totally agree.

I love racing, but I think there are still improvements to be made and especially to the GN. It's a lot better than it was but a smaller field would go a long way and is something I would like to see.

Some good posts on the last page- interesting to read even though we probably share differing opinions on racing and the GN. I do love horses though- the bit that annoys me on this thread which inevitably pops up every year is when people who have never been near a horse start bleating about the cruelty. I will listen and consider the opinion of anyone who has insight into the industry/ worked with thoroughbreds if they oppose the Grand National though and always want to know why.

Horses that don't want to race or just aren't good enough are taken out of racing. It would be wrong of me to say none are put down, but the majority are not

Perhaps time for you to do some research on the UK racing industry and slaughterhouses.

I have included a handy little link to get you started

the bit that annoys me on this thread which inevitably pops up every year is when people who have never been near a horse start bleating about the cruelty

I know...it's just not on the way people object to the death and injury of animals as part of the tradition and status of the 'world's greatest race' How dare they bleat about that.

Oh....and I have spent many many years 'near horses'

the bit that annoys me on this thread which inevitably pops up every year is when people who have never been near a horse start bleating about the cruelty

You dont need to have been near a horse to know that broken ribs, broken legs and heart attacks fucking hurt.

Sorry, is compassion for horses only allowed to be had by people who actually own/work with horses then? I didn't realise they were the rules flamingo

cantbelieve I didn't say that no horses were killed, the numbers in that article are sad but they are a tiny fraction of the number of racehorses in this country.

The article is also misleading, it talks about the number of foals being born each year but fails to acknowledge that those figures are the UK and Ireland combined. The UK has never produced more than about 5,500 foals per year, Ireland has always been the largest producer of Thoroughbreds in Europe.

Not sure why you have made reference to the UK and Irish production of foals..... a significant number of UK trained racehorses are sourced from Ireland as well as the US and France. Were you not aware of that?

Disappointing that you try to minimise it but to be expected IME..... and I suppose the 1,225 horses killed on UK racecourses since 2007 as well as those killed/injured in training is also ok to as they are also just a 'tiny fraction'
Perhaps have a look here
84 pages of the names of dead horses since 2007.

I don't see how you can be against it but also taking part by backing a horse

I decided at 7 that I didn't agree with it and have not watched or listened to it since, not picked a horse or taken part in a sweepstakes or anything, that said though, I don't say anything when other people are doing those things as they can make their own choices. I'm also vegetarian due to my love of animals but would never put anyone off eating meat, everyone has the right to make their own choices

I take it that all of the people complaining about the 'cruelty' of the GN are all vegans and don't use any any animal derivatives like leather and so in? And don't eat animal flesh?

If so, well done on being so pious.

If not, learn a little about horses and watch how they run and jump when left to their own devices.

I bet most of you have no problem leaving your cats and dogs alone for most of the day while you're out at work, despite the distress this causes to your own animals.

But sneer away at the owners and carers of horses, animals which receive the utmost in care and attention, if it makes you feel more sanctimonious.

I take it that all of the people complaining about the 'cruelty' of the GN are all vegans and don't use any any animal derivatives like leather and so in? And don't eat animal flesh?

At last..... it took a while but there it is.

You're welcome, Can't. Feel free to refute any of my points when you feel able.

The article refers to an annual foal crop of 19,000 at its peak, but only refers to the slaughter figures in the UK. The two numbers cannot therefore be reliably compared.

And yes I'm very aware of the horses imported, and exported, from other countries thanks very much. It's one of the areas I deal with at work.

If you read my earlier posts you would see that I have stated that every death is a tragedy and they should be a whole lot less frequent. But yes, I stand by my statement that when you look at the numbers involved we are talking about a very, very small number of fatalities when compared to the overall number of horses racing. Do you know how many horses have raced in the UK since 2007? I don't have the exact figures to hand but I can tell you that it will definitely be upwards of 75,000, if not much higher.