To wonder why people still bet on the grand national

[Springtime336]

-2 horses have already died at ladies day

• approx 200-250 horses die every year in the uk in horse racing

Really sad

@Werve1 Holy fuck I grew up near there. I had no idea. Why does someone have all those horses if they are not looking after them?

Soulsista - asides from travelling communities not being called gypsies anymore because it's a racist term, you've tatted them all with a very negative brush, not dissimilar to describing all Mexicans as sleepy drunks etc.

OP, I feel the same and I've also spent a year looking into the greyhound industry and it's sickening.

If horses and greys weren't wanted for racing, they wouldn't be overbred.

Agree OP it's awfully sad

201 horses died in 2018 from racing and that was a 6 year high. Don't know if it's down to standards slipping or if there were more races last year or more competitors on each race over the year, but the number is deaths has been going up.

Bloodsport- totally agree about the overbreeding
And I detest greyhound racing as much, if not even more It’s awful

neglected horses ........ that are left out in the cold in fields

There are many neglected horses, but not every horse left out in the field is neglected. We shouldn't anthropomorpise horses. They aren't four legged people. They evolved to live outdoors, and many do so very happily. In most cases a field is a healthier & happier way to live than a stable.

Horse racing? This one comes up every year at Grand National time, and sometimes sooner. I'd like to see horse racing improved. Banning it just isn't realistic. But it could be improved on many fronts - age of those running, going, whips, fences, etc. Also banning racing would have a HUGE impact on the economy.

I'd like to see figures from an organisation with no axe to grind. Animal Aid are biased. I'd like to know unbiased figures. I'd also like to know how those figures compare to a control group of horses in non-professional competitive work - are the numbers higher or lower, of those dying. Also, how they compare to horses out in the field. Anyone who has been around horses for any length of time knows how fragile horses are - has known horses who injured themselves running in the field and had to be put down.

It's not a simple black and white issue, however much people try to paint it that way.

Femodene- very well said

FamilyReferee - yes it would be good if it was even made safer , but people like animal aid are not making up numbers of horses dying
These are facts And again , a PP made a good point about overbreeding

What @FamilyReferee said ^^

A horse racing, doing something that comes naturally and breaking a leg and having a quick humane end - honestly it doesn't upset me that much. Of course it's sad and upsetting and all concerned are affected but -
Horses being left for months, years, in pain/starving to death, being neglected, being dumped with broken limbs etc - that gets to me. People keeping horses alive when they shouldn't upsets me when they have long term painful conditions and owners should have made the right choice for the horse a long time ago

Horses die cross country, hunting, standing still in the field, travelling in horseboxes, being hit by cars and many have a more prolonged and painful death

I don’t agree - it’s not as simple as just breaking a leg then being put down . The figures don’t include all the other horses who have injuries or suffer distress through training and racing
And the racing doesn’t come as naturally as people think - we don’t see horses naturally racing like this across fields ..

we don't see horses naturally racing like this across fields

Yes, we do, we really do.

Horses race each other all the time in the fields, especially youngstock. In older horses, seems to be geldings more than mares. But even mares will run around together, just for the hell of it sometimes.

And honestly, all the injuries in racing happen in the normal horse population - I'd just be interested to know the proportions/numbers between racing & 'normal' horse world to compare.

Hilarious the most racist/xenophobic person on MN harping on about racism on a horse thread .

FamilyReferee - I am positive horses do not race around fields in the way that they run the grand national- with all its intensive training- certain that that’s not natural

But then you would have to count all the injuries sustained through normal riding/being alive/doing showjumping/dressage and on and on plus all the training involved in other disciplines and compare them

Horses will run like that - they're a herd animal so they will naturally follow the pack
There's some amazing photos from a race called the golden button where the riders have come off and three of the horses are jumping a hedge, no rider or bridles, ears forward and happily carrying on. They won't just stop and eat because it's natural for them to stay with the herd

My old horse would jump in and out the field for the fun of it, he wasn't scared, he would just pop the fence, wander around, pop back in

You didn't put specifics on it, you said they don't naturally race. Horses absolutely naturally race, but obviously not as they do on a racetrack. I think that goes without saying.

Actually, the intensive training probably gives them better odds of survival, as they're fitter. Plus have a pilot onboard, who can hopefully prevent them crashing into fences or making silly turns where they fall over (seen this multiple times). Watching horses race for fun around a field can be terrifying, as we're aware how fragile they are. And most experienced horse people have probably had that moment standing in the field, calling out 'steady, steady' as the horses charge past, scaring you to death that they'll hurt themselves.

The Grand National is one hell of a race, and very controversial. I'm think it's a bit much myself - on years when I've watched it, I have my heart in my mouth, just hoping that all the horses make it home safely. And I wince with every faller.

I started matched betting last year and have stopped betting on horses. I can't change it but I don't want to be involved. Watching Sir Erec break his leg affected me so much I donated my profit from Cheltenham to a sanctuary that rescues ex racing horses. It's so sad. I wish they would at least remove the jumps to make it safer :(.

Also,when the jockey comes off , the poor horse is often distressed . I won’t be watching it but you may see this if you do
No matter what excuses or comparisons are made ,it doesn’t take away from the cruelty

Some horses will be distressed by a jockey/rider coming off, some will not. That's a very individual thing. Some won't give a shit, and will cheerfully gallop off. Have had this happen myself, and had to run all the flipping way home. Not on a racecourse, but while on a grass gallops & galloping.

In my opinion, cheerfully galloping does not describe the grand national
Anyway , just very sad that it still takes place

breaking a leg and having a quick humane end - honestly it doesn't upset me that much.

Not your horse, not your painful injury and death - if course it doesn’t upset you!

It wasn't anything I thought about too much until I won last year and was hit with guilt when Lilbitluso died. My winnings went to a race horse charity and I'll never bet on it again.

I've always lived in areas that do well out of horse racing so I'm not sure what the answer is. The idea though that it would stop dead one day so all horses would need to be shot is laughable though, much like the anti vegan argument about omg what would happen to the farm animals if everyone stopped eating meat - it's always going to be about a slow decline

Ahh snap Nichelette!

Completely agree with you OP, and I cannot stand how even people who would normally be against animal cruelty (yes, that is exactly what the Grand National is) are suddenly not bothered by it for the chance of some quick cash.

Someone at my work put bets on on behalf of all the staff. I asked for mine to be removed and was laughed at for being sensitive and ridiculous. They didn’t remove my bet and I’m fuming about it! If I win anything I’m donating it all to ex racehorse charities.

If it was a slow decline or if things were made safer, that would be a start . It just continues year after year despite the cruelty and deaths

Well said MaMaMa