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

Why do people still bet on the grand national?

Money.

Pure and simple.

And when people come out with the ‘well cared for and loved’ drivel, why is that?
Why are they so well cared for and loved?

Oh yes, because they bring money.
And when they suddenly don’t bring in the money?

Some go to loving homes sure.
But the majority end up at auction...

The way horses are treated, not just in the racing industry but overall quite frankly makes me sick.

imamearcat- no I still don’t believe with the overbreeding for the cruelty

*if they didn't race they wouldn't exist to being with. They have a good quality of life. Yes accidents happen but when they do they are dealt with as humanly as possible.

Given the choice, would you rather not live at all because there was a tiny chance you may have a fatal accident at some point in your career?*

And this argument which I hear all the time really sums up the revolting nature of the human.

We could just neuter you all and let you live out your lives as naturally as possible and when you die we won’t replace you but that costs us money and we don’t want to spend money on you if we don’t get anything back in return so you’ll have to die instead!

It's fairly disgusting and that comes from a horse owner and lover.
It will never be stopped because of the pure greed of people they earn a fortune from it

My work also do a sweep stake each year and I always say no thanks

So the problem with the figures are they are not used in context with anything else. Yes some horses die and that is sad but if there was no horse racing there is a sharp decline in the need to have the horses. I bet a ban on horse racing would kill far more horses than will die in races in the next 50 years. The horses are currently worth a lot of money and are very well cared for to protect that investment, if you ban horse racing overnight they become almost worthless. Also its a multi-million pound industry with thousands of jobs and businesses involved not just the wealthy at the top but down to people who muck stables or drive the horses around, so you would be putting lots of people out of work

So the same as hunting, then? So we should reinstate hunting? I think that’s a poor argument. Yes, I know hunting isn’t anywhere near the same scale, but same line of argument and let’s not forget all the dogs involved in hunting.

Racing involves backing 2 year olds who are just not mature enough to cope. There’s an awful lot of wastage even without the deaths on the track.

Good point Mrssunshinexxx

57 horses are dead this year already on UK racecourses. That does not include horses who die behind the scenes. Globally the figure if horrifying. 1000's exported to slaughter houses in Europe each year. The whole industry stinks.

They have a good quality of life

As long as they are winning races

Cherryhunt you do know that hunting carries on pretty much the same as it always has?🤷‍♀️

Gilbert1A - at least you are honest, but I can’t understand people not being affected by the cruelty Horses are sentient

Because I match bet and make a HUGE amount of money from the horses

So I guess you are ok with the number of horses killed so you can make loads of money. Nice

Makes me sad when the horses come out and are paraded in front of the crowds who are all dressed up and drinking champagne/beer! Poor beautiful creatures. Then you have the interviews with the owners who will always say... "I hope they come home in one piece, they are part of the family" !!! Horrible people. Fingers crossed they all come home alive

Gilbert1A - that’s what I don’t understand
If someone knows it’s cruel and have watched a race with a horse dying , how can they keep betting?

Thanks for your honesty
I couldn’t do it Even one death is too many and no amount of money would make me bet

99.5% of racehorses come home without serious injury. Many more horses each year are pts due to injuries sustained whilst turned out in a field. Should turning horses out be banned too?

The meat industry kills millions of sentient beings every year just because some people think that they taste nice. How is it the fate of a few hundred racehorses is so much more protested? Are you all vegetarian?

When it comes to animals it is important that they have a high quality life and a high quality death. Racehorses are far from the lowest on this scale.

It irks me when people go on about race horses living like kings. Horses don’t want or need to live like kings, the life we would want for ourselves as horses is not what they want or need.

Horses need turn out, companionship, plenty of forage, water and shelter. Race horses have none of these things. They aren’t turned out, especially not with others, as ironically they don’t want them injured. This causes sterotypies like wind sucking, crib biting, weaving, and they have massive levels of cortisol in the blood from the stress of being confined, which causes life long health issues. They’re fed high energy food in several large feeds a day, not the continuous access to fibre they need. This results in ulcers in almost 100% of horses, meaning they’re permanently medicated with omeprazole, which has its own issues.

They do not live like kings, they live like slaves.

I’m vegetarian but I can get my head round animals for food What I can’t get my head around is animal cruelty for sport

And even if other horses have it worse (arguable, even tethered horses have companionship, grazing and turnout), it’s not a race to the bottom. It’s ok to be concerned about all aspects of equine welfare.

Are you all vegetarian?

That old fucking chestnut

How is it the fate of a few hundred racehorses is so much more protested?

Not quite getting it are you

When it comes to animals it is important that they have a high quality life and a high quality death

Pity the 1000's of ex racers that have ended up in East European slaughter houses then

Not this shite again. Out come the holier than thou animal lovers. Every year, regular as clockwork...