Page 2 | How are people still watch horse racing/going to the races?

FleurDeLizz · 08/04/2022 09:48

There are lots of safety measures in place to protect the horses and riders. The minimum age for a horse to enter is 7, with 9 being the average age. They aren’t young animals out for their first time. They also have to have placed in equivalent races to prove that they are fit and able to race and the jockeys also have to be competent.

At the end of the day a horse could break a leg walking across its field. It’s heart could give out on a hack with its owner. It could die in a road accident. It’s a risk when you choose to keep an animal for your own pleasure. At least on a racecourse the end is usually quick.

MrsJBaptiste · 08/04/2022 09:50

Some if us just aren't into animals - sorry 🤷‍♀️

BadLad · 08/04/2022 09:54

For once I got a decent horse in the work sweepstake, so I'll be watching.

Come on Any Second Now.

LindaEllen · 08/04/2022 10:00

@toastfiend

Most fallers aren't "sent straight to the vet to be euthanised" - most are a bit stiff for a few days and then are fine. 6 horses have died in the Grand National since 2011, of course that's very sad, but it's not the massacre you're portraying it to be.

I support the racing industry. It's a big source of employment in lots of areas, it does a lot for the equestrian world as a whole (the veterinary facilities in Newmarket are breathtaking in what they can do, developed specifically for the racing industry but available to regular horse owners as well, and I'm so grateful for that after having a horse with a complex neurological issue referred to them) and the horses are treated like kings whilst in training. Having had multiple ex-racers, I am saddened that some ex-racehorses aren't offered any guarantees of responsible rehoming after their careers by more unscrupulous trainers and owners, but more and more is being done to combat this and they are finally being recognised as extremely useful and able horses outside of racing, achieving sensible prices on the market so they can't just be bought by people who wanted a cheap horse but don't have the money, or knowledge, to keep them.

I have far, far more of a problem with aspects of the leisure riding and private horse ownership industry, where people who know nothing about horse ownership and appropriate care buy ponies they don't know how to look after and keep them in miserable conditions, enormously overweight people ride horses they're too heavy for and then wonder why they've got back problems, idiots who over rug and over feed in the name of "love" and riding school horses who plod around the same arena for 4 hours a day having their mouths pulled, backs bounced on and ribs booted by people who don't know any better. Of course everyone has to learn, but life in a riding school is hard and boring for horses and ponies and it can go on for decades, at least racing is a relatively short career. Those things are far more prevalent and far more damaging overall, but no one ever says anything about them.

If 6 runners had died in the 100m sprint since 2011, it wouldn't be done anymore.

Why are our lives more important than theirs?

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/04/2022 10:00

I think you underestimate how easy it is for the majority of people not to care about something when the negative aspects are very remote from them. I live a charmed life which I have no doubt causes misery to many animals and humans across the globe. It’s no doubt sad for them, but I enjoy it far too much to want to change it. I expect you do, too.

ChurchlightJane · 08/04/2022 10:04

@savedbyanalien

Utterly barbaric 🤮

All this talk about the Grand National this morning.

Watching people ride these beautiful animals for sport, and if the poor beast were to fall, that's it... straight to the vets to be euthanised.

Dressing up and going to the races is gross. And I say this as someone who enjoyed doing this in my early 20s. I'm embarrassed.

Anyone else agree with me or AIBU?

Totally totally agree with you. And yes, I am vegan and doing my absolute best to tread lightly in as many ways as I can. It's vile.

ChurchlightJane · 08/04/2022 10:06

@ComtesseDeSpair

I think you underestimate how easy it is for the majority of people not to care about something when the negative aspects are very remote from them. I live a charmed life which I have no doubt causes misery to many animals and humans across the globe. It’s no doubt sad for them, but I enjoy it far too much to want to change it. I expect you do, too.

Not all of us do. Sone of us are trying. Not perfect but trying as hard as we can.

BadLad · 08/04/2022 10:08

If 6 runners had died in the 100m sprint since 2011, it wouldn't be done anymore.

Says who? Isle of Man TT racing still happens despite a number of fatalities comparable to six since 2011.

Abra1d1 · 08/04/2022 10:09

Those beautiful creatures would not exist if racing was abolished. They have been selectively bred for centuries to do that.

toastfiend · 08/04/2022 10:11

@LindaEllen the Grand National isn't equivalent to a 100m sprint, it's an endurance race like a marathon. People die whilst running marathons, someone I knew did, but we haven't banned them.

toastfiend · 08/04/2022 10:14

Your point re: why are our lives more important to theirs applies to my point about leisure riding and private horse ownership, too - I wouldn't want to live in miserable conditions with my mental and physical needs not being met, but no one ever says a word about that aspect of the equestrian world, probably because that would mean they'd feel uncomfortable about taking their little darlings to the local riding school or pony trekking whilst on holiday.

bluebeau · 08/04/2022 10:14

YABVU imo OP

Everyone involved in horse racing loves the horses, you can see that with the jockeys, trainers, owners at every race . The animals are looked after extremely well and these are RACE horses and they enjoy doing it.

I hate seeing horses fall but as someone mentioned above it's not actually as common as you think. I wish they didn't put them down afterwards but I can see why they do.

I'm sure it also can improve in areas of welfare but its hardly barbaric

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 10:15

Says who? Isle of Man TT racing still happens despite a number of fatalities comparable to six since 2011.

There’s a difference between humans that choose to take risks and animals that get no choice. I’m actually Manx and there are people who would like to see it banned due to the fatalities as well as the disruption it causes to the island.

AllOfUsAreDead · 08/04/2022 10:15

[quote savedbyanalien]**@AllOfUsAreDead* This. So many aspects of your life only occur because of cruelty to animals. Not saying its fine, it's really not, but you're getting hysterical over one thing and it's not even the biggest offender in animal cruelty, by a long shot.*

Where have I said this is the only act against animals I'm against?

I'm only talking about it now because the grand National is on this weekend and it's in the news. [/quote]
Make some more threads on the other aspects of animal cruelty then I'll believe you. Otherwise it is just another one of those where people act all outraged and then get distracted by the next thing to be outraged on and forget about this.

BadLad · 08/04/2022 10:18

@TurningUpMyStereotype

Says who? Isle of Man TT racing still happens despite a number of fatalities comparable to six since 2011.

There’s a difference between humans that choose to take risks and animals that get no choice. I’m actually Manx and there are people who would like to see it banned due to the fatalities as well as the disruption it causes to the island.

I understand that. I'm contradicting the point that an event involving people would have been banned if it had caused six fatalities in a decade.

CaveMum · 08/04/2022 10:21

I’ll bite. I work in racing, it’s the second most popular spectator sport in the U.K. and brings in millions for the U.K. economy.

Is racing perfect? No. Is it the height of depravity? Also no.

I’m not a big fan of the National, I’m a Flat person really, but it is part and parcel of our sport. The National is nothing like the race it was 20 years ago, heck if you saw some of the fences 50 years ago you’d be horrified! Can we do more to make it, and racing in general, safer? Definitely, but you can never eliminate risk in it’s entirety.

thetemptationofchocolate · 08/04/2022 10:23

Lots of people who go racing (as punters) don't really know much about horses. So they don't know that they don't finish growing until they are 5 or 6. Horses are raced on the flat at 2 years old, they are started with a rider as yearlings. That's far too young IMO and it's no surprise to me that many don't last.
It isn't just their physical maturity that's in question but they are still babies at 2 - it would be like making a 6 year old child do competitive sport. Imagine the mental damage that can be done.
I used to go racing quite often, but I don't go now. Maybe I am just being sentimental in my old age but I can't bear to watch now.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 08/04/2022 10:24

Definitely, but you can never eliminate risk in it’s entirety.

Well you can. Ban it.

Ahgoonyegirlye · 08/04/2022 10:26

‘ If 6 runners had died in the 100m sprint since 2011, it wouldn't be done anymore.

Why are our lives more important than theirs?’

Is that a serious question? Presumably you’re a vegan then?

EdgyNeonAnt · 08/04/2022 10:28

It is awful, YANBU. Would much rather see the people who still bet on it regardless being made to run round and jump obstacles, now that would be entertaining!

deadlanguage · 08/04/2022 10:29

@MiniTheMinx

Unless you are vegan, use only products not tested on animals, and happy not to take medication when ill then I find this over sentimental vomiting a bit hysterical.

Vegans take medication. Being vegan is about avoiding the exploitation and suffering of animals wherever possible. It’s not possible for most people to never take medication, but horse racing is wholly optional. Not the same thing at all.

CaveMum · 08/04/2022 10:30

Just to add, as others have said, racing happens almost every single day in the UK - off the top of my head there are 3 days with no racing this year - 23-25 December.

With that volume of racing there are inevitably injuries and sadly fatalities. The fatality rate in British Racing in 2021 was 0.21% which equated to 216 horses from 91,287 runs.

CaveMum · 08/04/2022 10:33

@thetemptationofchocolate

Lots of people who go racing (as punters) don't really know much about horses. So they don't know that they don't finish growing until they are 5 or 6. Horses are raced on the flat at 2 years old, they are started with a rider as yearlings. That's far too young IMO and it's no surprise to me that many don't last. It isn't just their physical maturity that's in question but they are still babies at 2 - it would be like making a 6 year old child do competitive sport. Imagine the mental damage that can be done. I used to go racing quite often, but I don't go now. Maybe I am just being sentimental in my old age but I can't bear to watch now.

There has been research done showing that racing at a younger age actually prevents injuries as the horse grows older. Of course I can’t for the life of me find the link to the research (it was done in AUS/NZ) but if I can find it I’ll post a link.

Lucimaya · 08/04/2022 10:35

Each to their own but these days the attendees seem to care more about drinking lots of alcohol and tacky outfits. It's more a drinks fest.

Pellewsmate · 08/04/2022 10:36

I don't follow racing and only every catch glimpses of it while switching channels, but from what I've seen it appears that some horses enjoy it, otherwise why would they continue once the jockey has fallen off? I feel the same when people complain about Crufts, some of those dogs appear to be having the time of lives. I personally consider running a complete waste of calories but judging by the thousands that enter marathons some people must enjoy it.