To wish the grand national wasnt an event

[Dineout112]

I hate it as so many horses get badly injured or even killed . I don’t know how people can enjoy it 🙁

The saddest part is the dead horses aren't even put to good use.

Slightly off topic but would the meat be fit for human consumption or are there too many drugs in it?

Reminded me to put a bet on, thanks op

If you don't like it, don't watch it. There are plenty of people that do enjoy it, including myself. Those horses are well looked after, and if they are injured it will be dealt with immediately and compassionately

YABU

If the horse don't want to run, they don't. There was one horse a few years ago that point blank refused to move from the start line. He's had a successful career in showing now I believe.

You can complain about it all you want, they aren't abused in any way. See far more abuse from ordinary horse owners. Race horses are treated very well. Injuries happen anywhere with horses, in eventing, show jumping, dressage etc. No one complains about them. Eventing is actually more dangerous than the national. The national fences crumble when you hit them, eventing jumps are solid and do not budge when a horse hits them. Horses get injured more often in their fields I would say, just by them clowning around and then falling over. But you wouldn't say its cruel to put them in a field would you?

Utterly ridiculous post , obviously posted by someone who knows bugger all about horses and racing- something which is done the world over and provides untold work.

Read up and educate yourself before making such silly and ignorant comments.

Horses breaking necks and backs does seem cruel, just for entertainment/ money

Cheltenham had 12 horse deaths in total in 2017 and whilst the GN isn’t statistically the course where most deaths happen, it is not ignorant to be concerned about the horses.

I do know about horses as it happens and dislike horse racing. However, it isn’t limited to the national so I stay quiet. Have never placed a bet, though.

So Dineout112 why are you against the national, but not badminton, burghley etc? The same thing can happen in them, but you aren't protesting them. Plenty of horses have broken their necks and backs from being hacked on a road and a moron on the road crashing into them, but you aren't calling for drivers to be banned or hacking on roads to be banned.

I don't think you understand the equestrian world at all, or have any knowledge of horses. Horses in racing have vets on hand at all times. Yes it does suck that from time to time they have accidents. But accidents happen at any point.

Crowd.......you are so right in what you say, these horses have the best of the best and are put to sleep humanely.
There is a travelling family who have a field full of horses and ponies locally, they are in a pitiful state, the woman who owns the yard where DD keeps her horses rang the RSPCA, they came out, the horses have access to water, nothing they could do.
Last year one escaped and was hit by a car, it turned out to be a double death, she was a pregnant mare.
Still no authority stepped in to remove these animals, it is indeed Dobbin left to rot in a field that needs sympathy.

I grew up on a stud farm, my parents bred Welsh cobs. I'll never forget going to race event at around 13/14, it was a local course and 3 horses were destroyed due to injuries. It was instantly done, the horses barely suffered but it absolutely haunted me for weeks afterwards and I've never watched racing again. It strikes me as a very cruel sport and I got very vocal with my middle DD who went to Cheltenham with her BF this year.

Hope none of you bet on Blaklion. He's a guaranteed faller at the first hurdle.

I've bet on Last Samurai - nod to my wife's country.

@shoxfordian who have you bet on?

As a horse owner myself (not racing) it is heart wrenching of course when there are injuries and deaths on the race course.

However... you would be amazed how many horses are able to fatally injure themselves simply in their paddocks in which they have been turned out daily for years. Accidents happen in all spheres and disciplines (yes, even with dressage horses!) you just don't hear about them!

As a leisure horse owner I (and my horse) get to benefit from all the medical advances and new treatments that predominantly originate from the racing industry and its investment in their horses well being. No race horse owner, trainer or jockey wants to injure or lose their horse. To think otherwise is ludicrous.

Horses injure themselves in fields every day and have to be euthanised, sometimes they have been in excruciating pain for hours until their owner finds them or calls the vet. I'm not a fan of the racing industry but at least these horses are well treated and not left to suffer. Crowd has it right - save your compassion for the negelcted pet horses.

Completely agree Op. The newish guy trying to arrange an office sweepstake abandoned it due to so few people wanting to take part and that was without anyone saying anything particularly. People just quietly ignored it. There's over 100 people in my office so if that's any indication of general opinion, hopefully popularity is waning.

its not half as bad as it used to be....

and frankly as others have said, save your sympathy for over worked and under fed school ponies tbh, they have years and years of it.

Blaklion carrying too much weight, I reckon. 9lbs higher than last year.

The Last Samurai I would love to see win. Not sure if he's past his best.

I reckon we will have a big price winner this year.

..or indeed the little ponies that are sold for pet food or transported live to the continent to be slaughtered for meat.
At our local horse sale, i breath a sigh of relief for the tiny pony when its price goes over 7 quid.

Legalised animal abuse. The argument that horse's hurt themselves in the paddock is ridiculous.

Blaklion carrying too much weight, I reckon. 9lbs higher than last year.

I got him in our sweepstake, so he's fucked.

I always pray they all come home safe, but I love to watch horses racing, and see them do what they were built to do, running hard, nostrils flared, beautiful flowing galloping. It's breath taking. The fact they run with it without the jockey says a lot to me. It's what they do.

Thanks for the reminder OP, off to study the form now.

What's the going like?

anyway thanks for reminding me, i will pop into the bookies and have a punt.