Horse Racing

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Love how this only crops up at National time, where are all the bore offs for the rest of racing season. Gimps.

Because it's topical innit.

 

[Leylo]

Fair enough. Always difficult around a thorny subject and moreso when it's one you have a personal involvement in. My main issue (much earlier ) is the constant talk of how those at the top end of the sport only want what's best for the horses. Like any multi-billion pound industry I'm not altogether sure that's entirely true. I'd argue there is a lot goes on that is money motivated or even worse ego related.

One of the protestors who I saw interviewed was at pains to talk about how she admires the connection between owners, trainers, riders and their horses and the whole spectacle of racing but she just felt that races like the National are very risky for no real good reason and wanted to see a better way of doing it.

Anyway went game today already miserable

 

[Eggs]

If they're treated like pets, why are they put in danger for their owner's profit?

....there’s very little profit in National Hunt racing. Horses are geldings so the vast majority have little or no sell on value or investment opportunity after their racing days are finished. Other than a few races, prize money in this country is diabolical. Similarly, the brood mares take so long to produce foals they are hardly investment opportunities.

Unlike the flat, owners tend to be racing enthusiasts who love the sport.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

....there’s very little profit in National Hunt racing. Horses are geldings so the vast majority have little or no sell on value or investment opportunity after their racing days are finished. Other than a few races, prize money in this country is diabolical.

Unlike the flat, owners tend to be racing enthusiasts who love the sport.

But none of what you said above answers my question, in fact it proves more that it's about the money instead of the animal's weathfare.

 

[tommye]

Give horses footballer's wages....

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Give horses footballer's wages....

Make DCL jump those fences!

 

[Rita_Poon]

Give horses footballer's wages....

Give footballers horses jobs.. .

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Give footballers horses jobs.. .

Andy Carroll:

 

[Eggs]

But none of what you said above answers my question, in fact it proves more that it's about the money instead of the animal's weathfare.

…sorry, I thought my response suggested it was little to do with money and more about the love of the game. Apologies if that wasn’t clear. The horses are cherished by connections, I love the sport & know it well.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

…sorry, I thought my response suggested it was little to do with money and more about the love of the game. Apologies if that wasn’t clear. The horses are cherished by connections, I love the sport & know it well.

Love of the game , money, all of that is fine, but the health of the horses, who have no say in the matter, should be paramount. Surely the health of the horse is financially important to the owners and they'd want safer tracks. If that meant they earned less money, then it would show they do indeed have the animal's utmost wellbeing in mind as they say.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Sorry but this whole argument of having to put them in riskier races to be able to maintain having them is lost on me, if you can't afford it get a cat.

 

[Rita_Poon]

 

[Rita_Poon]

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

….because of the modifications it’s a truly high class race these days. It’s nothing like in years gone by where anything could run for a day out. These animals are top drawer.

Sure, the field could be reduced but you can have tragedies in a two runner race. Dark Raven sadly died in an earlier hurdle race.

I’d be more fearful for the welfare of these horses if there was no horse racing. They are a difficult animal to manage.

They are bred for a purpose

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

If they made the national a flat it'd still sell out.