The Grand National 2012

[villajk]

I don't gamble but had a go today as there was no football for us.

Chose the two horses with the name Neptune in because of Neptunes in Benidorm.

I won.  Only had a pound on them each way, mind.  Still a winner.  Think I should have a go on the lottery tonight.

[Dave Cooper please]

Two horses including Synchronised have died.
Well worth your one bet a year eh?

[richard moore]

Two horses including Synchronised have died.
Well worth your one bet a year eh?

Indeed. A disgusting debacle as far as I am concerned which I know won't make me popular in these parts. It is even more distasteful when people take an interest in horse racing once a year just to bet on this. I would ban it tomorrow if I could

[villajk]

Two horses including Synchronised have died.
Well worth your one bet a year eh?

I didn't know that.  Then no, it isn't.  That is indeed very sad.

[villajk]

Two horses including Synchronised have died.
Well worth your one bet a year eh?

Indeed. A disgusting debacle as far as I am concerned which I know won't make me popular in these parts. It is even more distasteful when people take an interest in horse racing once a year just to bet on this. I would ban it tomorrow if I could

I don't take an interest once a year.  That was the first time I have ever bet on it.
I don't normally bet.


Very sad news about the horses.

[richard moore]

...is the right answer Pauline, I am glad, and not at all surprised, that you agree

[Dave]

Indeed. A disgusting debacle as far as I am concerned which I know won't make me popular in these parts. It is even more distasteful when people take an interest in horse racing once a year just to bet on this. I would ban it tomorrow if I could

Hard to disagree. If they are going to cancel whole TV series because of safety concerns involving the horses, it's hard to see the justification in horse racing.

The one part that I would disagree with is the part about people who only do it once a year. Surely a horse is just as likely to die in any other steeplechase so why should people who just watch this one feel any more complicit?

[richard moore]

I have no truck with horse racing per se Dave though I also have no interest in it but surely you have to ban particular races that have a history of fatalities? It makes me want to cry the way people are happy to try and win a few quid once a year at the cost of these poor animals' lives
 
Two other horses out on the track being treated as well

Oh, and I am glad we agree on something at long last!!! ;-)

[Dave]

What about those people who want to win a few quid every couple of days at the cost of the horses' lives?

How is that better?

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't really like horse racing, and don't like the National at all, but I have to take a close interest in it for work (and have spent the entire day on call today because of it).

I don't normally have a flutter on it, I usually just bet on football, but had a few quid today.

[PeterWithesShin]

Playing advocate for a moment, should we ban football after what happened to Muamba and Piermario Morosini?

[taylorsworkrate]

I will usually argue all day with people who run down horse racing.

However with the Grand National I tend to agree. It's a decent handicap race at best and the chances of a horse losing is life is astronomical compared to other races. At the very least the fences should be shortened and the ground made softer.

Its not worth the risk on the horses or the jockeys.

[taylorsworkrate]

Playing advocate for a moment, should we ban football after what happened to Muamba and Piermario Morosini?

Ban Boxing?

People have been paralysed playing Rugby. Ban Rugby?

[richard moore]

Playing advocate for a moment, should we ban football after what happened to Muamba and Piermario Morosini?

The Grand National has a consistent history of fatalities PWS, football doesn't, that is the difference for me

Dave - A lot of people bet just once a year on this particular race knowing it has this sort of history. I find that very distasteful but realise that it just my view. Someone on the radio has just said people like me need to 'grow up' and 'get on with it' so that is what I shall pootle off and do!

[richard moore]

Playing advocate for a moment, should we ban football after what happened to Muamba and Piermario Morosini?

Ban Boxing?

People have been paralysed playing Rugby. Ban Rugby?

No, of course not, but if you had some specific type of one off event within those sports that consistently led to fatalities - which of course is not the case as the analogy doesn't exist - it would probably be banned