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

Jesus, so many self-proclaimed animal lovers are truly nasty people.

The nasty comments are not coming from the animal lovers

Jesus, so many self-proclaimed animal lovers are truly nasty people

They aren't living their natural lives out rolling in green fields Well I have two such animals in my field.

It's just that this is easy to see and read about. It's right infront of people so very easy to get up in arms about.
But I bet a lot of animal lovers eat almonds.... And bees and salmon are dieing by the thousands due to the all in industry. And there are a million hidden problems. This one is just easy to care about.

Of course it's not a race to the bottom and you can care about one thing without needing to care about everything... But we all have our own red lines so you can care without ripping into someone because they don't.

Crisscross...you say they die anyway ....What a particularly stupid statement . Humans due too , does that mean it doesn't matter how they die ?
I won't even go into the harm that betting causes countless families

Pelirocco - i don't agree with horse racing at all but lots of exracers do end up in nice homes. I have a failed ex racer who was retrained as a riding horse and has a pampered life with me. Sadly there are a lot who are not so lucky though.

Christ you're a boring, sanctimonious lot! I just won £40... so there!

A few points, having worked in the racing industry. Racehorses do get turnout. The national hunt yard I worked at every horse was turned out 24/7 during its early stages of training. They were also not broken until the age of 3. Almost every yard, and I'm only saying almost as I don't know all of them obviously, turns their horses out during the off season.

Most uk horses will have had Bute at sometime which permanently removes them from the food chain. They are not being exported to Europe for meat.

The racing industry knows that there are problems with over production and retired horses and is taking steps to tackle them.

I am genuinely confused why it's seen as socially acceptable to kill millions of animals totally unnecessarily for food but a few hundred that die on racecourses causes outrage. Can someone explain it?

Well I have two such animals in my field

I think the PP was talking about the 1000's not in your field.

For me , as I said , it’s about the cruelty just for entertainment and money making

Derxa ...I agree some ex race horses are sold on , we had an ex steeplechaser.....loveable but decidedly dim !
It's a drop in the ocean when you consider the number of horses that are breed each year for racing

I think for me personally having gone through a really horrible 12 months (I won’t bore you with the details as I’ll be accused of “shoe horning” again!) and i’ve been through hell and back with my family. I have more important things to worry about than horses. I know that’s kind of sad but it is what it is. Like I’ve alreasy said I don’t take huge enjoyment from watching horses racing, I only bet on grand national day, but today I’ve had all of my family round, which for one reason or anther is rare, we’ve had fun with the kids, enjoying the weather and a bbq and yes, watching the race together. I really don’t give a damn what people think of me. Life is short, shit happens, sometimes unnecessarily but it is what it is. You really need to get over yourselves.

If you don't like racing, that's fair enough. Everyone's entitled to their own feelings and opinion.

But please at least base your arguments on truth. To the PP who said racehorses don't get turnout or companionship, it doesn't sound as though you know much about modern training methods.

Pic 1: the champion NH racehorses Kauto Star and Denman turned out together at their peak (and actually racing each other...who'd have thought it?). NB: Kauto Star retired sound after his racing career and sadly died when turned out in his retirement home paddock.

Pic 2: horses turned out together at Grand National-winning trainer Lucinda Russell's yard.

Pic 3: Philip Hobbs' - top NH trainer who had a runner in today's GN - horses enjoying the sunshine.

These are three of the top trainers in the sport, who by definition because of their success have some of the most valuable NH horses under their care. And yet they still turn their horses out in paddocks together quite happily.

Those horses have been bred to race. Unfortunately some die or get injured. But is it any worse than a pig bred to be eaten. Which will definitely die.

At least the horse gets a good life and dies doing what it loves. Unlike the pig.

Unless you are vegan then I don't think you can really sit on your high horse saying its wrong to bet on the national.

Oh and I bet every year and go to the races at least once a year.

They are not being exported to Europe for meat

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/1000-racehorses-a-year-in-uk-abattoirs-shocking-failures-in-checks-how-do-we-know-thoroughbreds-8496027.html

www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/oct/01/horseracing.sport

www.thejournal.ie/thousands-of-horses-slaughtered-for-meat-105483-Mar2011/

www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2007/12/04/horseworld_feature.shtml

But is it any worse than a pig bred to be eaten.

Of course it is.

Did you see that horse scrambling about on the ground

Christ you're a boring, sanctimonious lot! I just won £40... so there!

When you were watching the race did you see the horse that didn't make it? It was horrific viewing, seeing it's legs flailing about.

Just as well you never put your money on that one.

I always bet on the National, tradition. As I eat meat and use other animal products (leather) which have far lower welfare standards than horse racing. I guess I just don’t care that much about animals. That’s what it boils down to, sorry.

Tinyteatime - that’s a fair summary
There are those who care and those who will never care no matter what happens

But is it any worse than a pig bred to be eaten.

Of course it is.

Did you see that horse scrambling about on the ground

Have you seen pigs thrashing on the hook after they have been insufficiently stunned. Have you seen how they thrash as their throat is cut and they're bled to death.

Very sad about the horse at the first fence.😢 I do have mixed feelings about the National it is a particularly dangerous race, but I think big steps have been made to improve safety.

I don't know how people can say 'it's all about money' though, watching the interview with tiger rolls groom. Just bursting with pride and love. As were all connections.

I don't get why everyone gets so 'heartbroken' about this one horse, do you feel equally heartbroken for every chicken and piece of steak you see in Tesco? Or every road kill victim by the side of the road?

Like it or not, millions of animals die and have horrible lives because of humans on an unbelievable scale. Why pick on horse racing where the animals involved are actually loved and treated like kings?

It’s the ‘ loved’ and ‘ treated like kings’ I’m not so sure about . I think the death is tragic Don’t know how people can dismiss it

Have you seen pigs thrashing on the hook after they have been insufficiently stunned. Have you seen how they thrash as their throat is cut and they're bled to death.

I actually have. However I cant say I see these things as being equal.

@Springtime336

I'm not trying to be a dick, but I would like to illustrate a point.

I'm an ethical jeweller and my workshop is animal product free. One of the most basic jeweller tools is a rawhide hammer (a hammer made from rolled hide). If you own jewellery that's been handmade, I can almost guarantee that animal byproducts have been involved in its production. If you buy jeweller from any high street chain, then it's not ethical and some of the production and material sourcing is downright disgusting.

My jewellery costs me a lot more to produce than another jeweller who doesn't care about ethics. And it costs more to buy. I will never buy jewellery unless it is ethically produced and I never have. All the people who do, I think "well some people care but others just won't no matter what". And I think it's shameful to buy from chain shops who don't work ethically. Obviapily the industry isn't perfect and my jewellery still creates a footprint on the planet, but I do the best I can.

I care deeply about clothing and jewellery and how it is produced and sourced. I think badly people who buy cheap and unethical items, and let's face it... That's almost everyone.

I'm going out on a limb and I'm going to say you've probably bought clothes and jrwrlley without giving a thought the the animal products used in production and the cruetly or impact on the planet involved. But that doesn't make you a horrible person... you just have a different red line to me on that issue and you care about different things from me.

You care deeply about horses. I don't know I you're a good or bad person, and your stance on horses doesn't inform that decision for me.

The people who don't care about horses in the same way you do aren't horrible people. They will all have their own issues which they care deeply about, and you might not give a damn about those issues. Does that make you horrible? Does that mean you're not caring?

It's fine to have your own opinions and our own causes, but don't lash out at the people who don't agree.