Grand National - is it cruel?

I fear the so called 'safer' fences will lead to a faster race. Falls will be inevitable and the meeting has had two fatalities already. All equestrian sport involve risk to horse and rider but National Hunt racing is the most dangerous. I hope they all get round safely but I doubt it will be so.

Horses die all the time. It's just that they make news of it at this time of year. Racing folk pray that the horses they love come home safe. People who write newspapers or make news programmes want bad things to happen so they can go on about it. Believe me, the people at Nigel's yard will be heartbroken tonight.

I wonder how many people who think this is cruel are happy to eat meat? Cows, pigs, lambs, chickens die all the time too. And before someone says this is just 'sport' I don't suppose the slaughterhouse is a fun place.

Tegan I think[ on his own ] 9/1

There is a difference between a sport being cruel and being dangerous. Because National Hunt racing is dangerous I am concerned for the horses on race day. I know how well they are treated behind the scenes and how much time and love is devoted to their care and training. I also cannot ignore the vast amounts of money involved so I hope that tomorrow the horses and jockeys will get round safely, there will be no excessive use of the whip, no horse will show signs of exhaustion, the punters don't lose their shirts, the travelling lads and lasses are well rewarded for their efforts and at the end of all that....the owners and trainers of the winning horse enjoy their big moment.

But what happens to the racehorse that has outlived its productive life or doesn't make the grade?

Like the old or failed greyhounds who are discarded???

It probably goes for horsemeat. If it has been successful it might go for stud or as a brood mare, or even find a cushy retirement billet with a keen rider as racehorses can make lovely riding horses as long as they don't get the urge to beat everyone else home. We used to have retired racehorses (I don't think they were ever any good, mind you) at the yard my DDs rode at.

We've discussed this on other threads, Orca It's not a happy subject. The lucky ones are re-trained and live out their years with devoted owners. Others are not so lucky and end up in a can of dog food.

Well retired greyhounds are usually quite young, perhaps only about 3 or 4 and the lucky ones take up residence on a sofa where they are spoiled rotten and from time to time snarf a leg of lamb or haunch of venison off the kitchen counter. The unlucky ones are shot, thrown out of cars, abandoned, or worse fates. On balance I think horses get the better deal. Grace seems quite happy wth her retirement

I know

She's getting a bit uncomfortable with this topic and has retreated to bed.

Hi Tegan I think it will be Teaforthree and Tarquinius as an outsider at about 100/1! Good Luck to all the horses and betters!

100-1? That would be nice winnings for somebody! What about this punter who has worked out the winner by analysing the number of letters in all the previous winners' names?

Oh, I've backed Tarquinus as well. I bought a book about Foinavon the other night and asked the author to write inside 'To Tegan; still searching for the 100/1 winner..good luck' so I thought I'd better back a 100/1 shot. I did back Mon Mome when he won at 100/1, but had backed him months before at 33/1 [he was retired last week, by the way]. I've got a huge pile of bets next to me, I'm ashamed to say, but keep going back to Rare Bob, because Bryan Cooper, the 'boy wonder' is riding him, and I fancied him last year. All in all I'll be happy if I get my money back [I've spent about £12 so far over several months]. But all I really want is for them all to be back in their stables tomorrow night.

I will have a couple of bob on Rare Bob as well

Good night .. all read about your winners tomorrow

I don't care who wins, I just want them to get round safely, but I feel that is too much to hope for. I think it is a cruel race and a cruel sport, where the horses are no more than commodities

Lovely day for it if it is a s sunny as here

So much news about the horses lost so far, but no headlines for dear little Fair Along who died of colic at the weekend leaving true racing fans heartbroken at the news. As if a horses death only matters if it's at Aintree or Cheltenham. All the press want today is a fatality and I hate them for it. Today reminds me of the beautiful sunny day when Aldaniti won [only seems like yesterday]. A real fairytale and something that has inspired cancer sufferers ever since, and raised millions to find a cure.

Wrong, horses will not jump if u willing

Horses will only jump if willing!

I enjoy racing , but cannot watch The National , think it pitiless .

We instead are going to the Circus , with our GS"s who are staying for the week . Great

Orca My feeling is that people eating meat and horse racing are two separate issues - one is a leisure pursuit, the other is necessary sustenance.

I don't eat meat primarily because I don't like factory farming and because I think the production process is a waste of resources. I think it's perfectly valid for people who eat meat to express their dislike of horse or dog racing.

They can eat whatever they like Eloethan including horse.