That the Grand National should end

[LlynTegid]

The cruellest horse race, at least on these shores. Hope no horse is injured or killed before it is stopped for good.

TidalShore there’s a difference between why things are done and there’s also a difference between passively allowing harm and actively allowing harm.

With why things are done - cats are allowed out because they want to be out (usually) vs horses that want to run but don’t necessarily want to race. Your horse can run without being raced.

Passive harm is accepting there are risks but allowing the act anyway - cats being out fits this as there is a risk that they could be hit by a car but it’s not why you let them out. You could refuse to let them out but there a lot of cats that would be very unhappy with this. Horses can be exercised without being raced. Choosing to race them is choosing to actively put them in harm’s way. I don’t know any cat owner that would do this, and you’ve already accepted that no dog owner would.

Totally agree. I can’t watch it as I find it vile that those poor horses are put through that for entertainment.

I’m not an animal person as such - I’ve never owned a pet, I don’t coo over random dogs and I can’t stand next doors cat as it shits all over my flower beds and I find it ridiculous that so many people treat their dogs as if they are human…. Yet these people are happy to watch and get involved in that race. Awful.

Remember 'Ferdinand' a famous winner who was sent to slaughter for pet food when he could no longer race. Dreadful.

@DearAnt talk to a bloodstock insurer - someone whose very job is to quantify risk - there is little difference in premiums for an unraced 2yo turned out in a field and one that is in full training.

The fatality rate in British racing was 0.18% in 2023 from 18,630 individual runners, flat and jump. Can we improve on that, yes and we should, but don’t believe the people that try to tell you the sport is inherently dangerous.

Yes, it’s awful.

What do sweat shops in Bangladesh and anything else you dredge up have to do with horse racing?

That’s not what happened at all! Ferdinand was sold from America to Japan as a stallion and he stood there at stud for several years. His Japanese owners sent him to a slaughter house and there was rightly uproar. As a result a number of other horses were brought back from Japan and sale contracts were amended so that if a horse was no longer deemed “useful” he had to be offered back to his previous owner.

I feel cringe admitting this, but since we are on the topic - I outright refuse to date anyone who thinks horse or dog racing is acceptable!

Those statistics ignore horses that survived their injury for 48 hours or more before being euthanized, and serious but-not-fatal injuries. I used to volunteer at a very small animal sanctuary that had a couple of ex race horses with brain injuries sustained in racing, I’d imagine that there are many, many more nationally.

And if we’re talking the GN specifically, the fatality rate is more than double the figure you posted. If you’d like to reduce the amount of racing-related deaths, surely banning races that have much higher fatality rates than the average would be a sensible place to start?

There was a good 3 or 4 years where no horses were killed (in the main race anyway) because they were supposed to have made the course safer-so I did bet those years and all horses and riders got back safe. Then the last time I bet on it the horse I chose fell (through no fault of his own, another fell in front of him- he'd raced before and always finished the course) he wasn't injured but it was a worry he might've been at first. After that I decided I won't bet on it anymore because even that was really upsetting. I try and avoid it now because the last time I watched the news to make sure all horses got back safe praying for that but sadly one had indeed been killed 😢

@BrendaSmall

Was there really any need??

some of us are greatly concerned at how many horses DIE for this race. Obviously you don't care about the horses, that's up to you and your conscience, but was there any need to post that??

@FestiveAuntFanny

because human adults can weigh up the risks and decide for themselves, horses cannot.

Only low life knuckle dragging skanks support animal cruelty

Same here. They can get in the bin

Kids in Bangladeshi sweat shops making footballs.- we probably should?

Humans consent to those sports, it’s not comparable.

YANBU OP detest animal cruelty, unfortunately many humans enjoy a bit of suffering whether it be animal or children- humans don’t give a shit.

Absolutely, and despite our sometimes differing views I've every respect for the people who do care all year round and put real effort in to trying to change things. The race itself has been made safer which can only be a good thing and they have had their part to play in that . It's just the ones who jump on the bandwagon in March and April having not given the sport a second thought the rest of the year that irritate me.

It should end, or at least be changed to reduce fatalities.

But it's also the biggest event in the horse racing calendar so...it won't.

@VenetiaHallisWellPosh it has been changed multiple times in recent years - the fences have been altered and it bears little resemble to the race that, for example, Red Rum won.

The lower age limit for horses has been raised.

Horses have to have had a minimum number of races (to gain experience) in order to run.

Fences have been lowered.

This year the maximum number of runners has been dropped from 40 to 34.

It’s far from the most important race in the calendar though, there are plenty of more significant races throughout the year. It’s just the race that the public recognise the most.

I’ve always hated horse racing with a passion. To be honest I hate horse ownership as well. In all my years, no one has ever given me an explanation that sits well with me for either.

For example: Horses in captivity live longer. So would most wild animals. What is the point in a long, healthy life if it’s on someone else’s terms? Always ask a horse owner if they would like to live that life. Restricted to a stable and a field. We choose who you get to meet, what you eat. Every single day of your life. But it’s ok as you’ll live longer and be healthy! 😒

I remember as a young teen seeing horses running on riderless in the GN like they were zombies. Others falling. Being shot. Whilst twats in hats quaffed champers, fluttered cash and guffawed. Utterly sickening.

@Concannon88

"I feel cringe admitting this, but since we are on the topic - I outright refuse to date anyone who thinks horse or dog racing is acceptable"

Nah - no cringe there, seems like a perfectly rational choice not to want to date someone that derives entertainment from the suffering of animals.

The fatality rate is 0.4% for steeplechasing. The GN has had 62 fatalities since 2000, which is more like 4%.

I believe all horse racing should be banned, as well as greyhound racing and any other cruel animal sports. Honestly what the human race does for fun is just plain cruel and we should be ashamed of ourselves.

If we’re banning horse racing, we should be banning horse riding full stop. They don’t need us sitting on their backs. Camel and elephant riding is frowned upon and deemed cruel, same applies to horses.