Horse Racing

[Voodoo Billy]

Anyway, back to the race :

Must have won well last year to be carrying top weight on this occasion.

 

[TommyDavo]

From the banners I saw outside and the shouts, the protestors were not simply anti horse racing but animal husbandry in total. I‘ve always thought it a wonder to be alive rather than worry about the end

 

[TommyDavo]

Why? I enjoy horse racing. First time I've not been to Aintree in years, I've been to Cheltenham and Haydock as well for jump racing. Not sure how anyone who actually cares about the horses thought that first lap of the track was painfully hard to watch today. Simple changes could reduce the risk so not sure why anyone would be against it to be honest. Wouldn't take anything away from the race either.

If they banned horse racing tomorrow it would take sod all from my life, but I can guarantee dog food would be cheaper for a time.

 

[Rita_Poon]

microwave lasagna's

 

[bullybeef]

Pulling out all the stops to save Shark Hanlon’s horse. Any other day, any other race and it would have been euthanised.

The horse will live but it won’t race again apparently.

They couldn’t allow a second death.

 

[Rita_Poon]

sporting missed a penalty, laid on the first goal for arouza, then hit the bar the ball returning into play, then the post returning into play twice, then scored a penalty to even it up and couldn't do anything with 12 minutes added on.
To get me out of dodge with the national and joyce. crap weekend.

 

[If You Know Your History]

Completely agree @Eggs

I’m a big fan of NH Racing but I love horses even more. I found yesterdays National distressing. The faller at the very first fence appeared to die instantly. As well as the other carnage you describe, watching those two loose horses running on the inside of the track with one eventually colliding with the perimeter fence was also not a good look.

It was carnage and I really fear for the future of the race. I also found ITV’s coverage of the events disappointing. They didnt want to acknowledge the death and carnage before going off air.

As fans, we are not stupid. We know there is over breeding in the search for the next black type horse. We know what happens to those that don’t make it. To try and say ALL horses are looked after for all of their natural lives is just poppycock. I must add that there are responsible owners/trainers that do care for ALL horses but sadly there are some that don’t.

The authorities need to look at where it all starts… the over breeding and work up.
Any auld Joe can breed race horses and it needs to stop.

Agreed. It was sickening.

 

[Gareth Gibson]

I'm disappointed to hear the trainer of Hill Sixteen has said that the horse was hyper before going out because of the delays and that's the reason why it fell at the first. No problem with them blaming the protesters for the horse becoming hyper but surely if you care about the horse, you pull it out the race if it was that bad. Baffling to be honest and not a good look at all.

Did he really try to blame the delay on the poor horse's death? Extraordinary.

 

[If You Know Your History]

No - I'm about 10 minutes down the M57 from Aintree give or take a sticky protestor.

Still not sure what that has to do with the design of the Grand National though. Seriously, do you think that the meeting would suffer if they lowered and took out a few jumps and had less runners?

Or do you think the majority who pump money and therefore jobs into Aintree would lose interest? Personally I don't think the majority of punters who rock up in April are hardcore horse racing traditionalists. In fact I'd venture the vast majority couldn't tell you either the distance or the number of jumps. They'd still be more than willing to get dressed up, pissed up and throw money at it though.

There does exist a possibility that the Grand National can prosper as a much safer race. That's hardly an unreasonable stance.

My sentiments exactly.

It's becoming harder and harder to justify these agonisingly painful injuries and deaths of these majestic beasts.

 

[bullybeef]

Did he really try to blame the delay on the poor horse's death? Extraordinary.

Even more deluded than ITV’s coverage.

 

[toffee82]

From the banners I saw outside and the shouts, the protestors were not simply anti horse racing but animal husbandry in total.

I don't think people should be marrying animals either.

 

[Charro]

I'm a racing fan but I was sickened by that in Saturday.

It needs to change.

Anyone trying to blame the protesters is an idiot, and these trainers and owners do not care about the welfare of these animals as much as we are told.

They're nothing but a commodity.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

I went on Saturday, and only really saw the protestors on the way into the ground and they were all well-behaved from what I saw.

Whilst I'm a horse racing fan and I had a great day at Aintree. I think more can be done to prevent the death of horses at all jump races, and the pressure from the protests should help with that.

 

[bullybeef]

I'm a racing fan but I was sickened by that in Saturday.

It needs to change.

Anyone trying to blame the protesters is an idiot, and these trainers and owners do not care about the welfare of these animals as much as we are told.

They're nothing but a commodity.

The better ones being a higher value commodity.

The ones that don’t make it are the ones I worry about. It all stems from over breeding in the search for the next best thing.

Horse racing is a massive industry. No Government will ever take any real steps to stop it.

To give a bit of balance… most races pass off without incident or death. The GN increases the risk with the number of horses taking part and the obstacles they face. It was noticeable that the 2nd circuit was pretty much incident free on Sat when there were less than 20 runners still going. I’m pretty sure the horse thst died at the first fence did so due to being completely unsighted. To be fair the Jockey appeared to be horrified at the sight of the stricken horse… it’s not what anyone wanted to see or experience.

 

[chicoazul]

Sad to see some don’t value the well-being of animals, but not surprising.

Ban this barbaric sport NOW.

The only people pissed off will be smelly baccy stain scruffy older men and young sausages who wear tartan suits once or twice a year to go blow money they haven’t got on a sport they don’t know about as they plough the cocaine up their noses and wank over Thomas Shelby. No loss.