The Grand National 2012

[Dave]

I'd say the obvious difference between horse racing and the sports listed above is that the horses aren't really choosing to do it.

If they were going out of their own accord, knowing the risks then I'm not sure there would be much to complain about.

[damon loves JT]

The Grand National is a bloodsport. If you're cool with bloodsports, that's one thing, but let's not pretend it's just a bit of harmless fun.

[cdward]

You can't compare animals to people when talking about fatalities in sport, and how is having a flutter once a year being complicit, totally ridiculous opinions. If you are offended by horse racing don't watch, bet or participate in it, but don't get on your high horse about those that have a different opinion.
There really are some ridiculous comments on here.
For the record I have no interest in horses or races, but have a bet on the Grand National once a year. I don't want horses to be killed during the race, but if there are changes to be made I'm happy to let the horse racing people make them.

[TopDeck113]

The disgrace in horse racing is not necessarily the couple of fatalities that happen once a year at Aintree, but the fate of the vast majority of the 3000 or so horses that are retired from racing each year.  Still it keeps our European cousins well fed...

[manic-road]

Shame about the fatalities but that's horse racing. Some will break down just running on the flat never mind jumping over fences or hurdles.

[richard moore]

You can't compare animals to people when talking about fatalities in sport, and how is having a flutter once a year being complicit, totally ridiculous opinions. If you are offended by horse racing don't watch, bet or participate in it, but don't get on your high horse about those that have a different opinion.
There really are some ridiculous comments on here.
For the record I have no interest in horses or races, but have a bet on the Grand National once a year. I don't want horses to be killed during the race, but if there are changes to be made I'm happy to let the horse racing people make them.

I agree entirely. There really are some ridiculous comments on here

[cdward]

You can't compare animals to people when talking about fatalities in sport, and how is having a flutter once a year being complicit, totally ridiculous opinions. If you are offended by horse racing don't watch, bet or participate in it, but don't get on your high horse about those that have a different opinion.
There really are some ridiculous comments on here.
For the record I have no interest in horses or races, but have a bet on the Grand National once a year. I don't want horses to be killed during the race, but if there are changes to be made I'm happy to let the horse racing people make them.

I agree entirely. There really are some ridiculous comments on here

Yep, I was talking about your ridiculous comments, but didn't feel the need to single you out.

[Dave Cooper please]

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?

Say if, in just one football or rugby match a year, they made it much harder than usual by having someone on the side with an iron bar trying to break the players legs, would you think that was okay? The Grand National is popular because the horses are jumping bigger fences and running a longer distance than almost any other race, but this means they are killing horses who are breaking legs or becoming utterly exhausted, all in the name of making it a spectacle and hoping we spend huge amounts betting on it.

 As for boxing, well boxers know the risk and don't have to step into the ring, the horses don't get that choice. Yes I know the horses are bred to race and obviously enjoy it or they wouldn't jump the fences, but you can't tell me that the horse knows the risks!

[Lobsterboy]

Really sad news about Synchronised and According To Pete who were killed today, thoughts are with connections of the horses

Just one question for all the people who watch one race a year and have decided we need to ban horse racing; can you let me know what we are going to do with all the jockeys, trainers, stable staff, vets, farriers etc who earn a living from this sport? Oh and the horses?

Are we going to consign them to the scrap heap on a whim or should we perhaps take a step back and allow the animal welfare people to work with the horse racing community to try and improve this situation?

Just a thought...

[Dave Cooper please]

Just one question for all the people who watch one race a year and have decided we need to ban horse racing; can you let me know what we are going to do with all the jockeys, trainers, stable staff, vets, farriers etc who earn a living from this sport? Oh and the horses?

The same argument was made about fox hunting.

Anyway, I personally didn't say ban it completely, just make it much, much safer. Four mile races over huge fences is asking for dead horses.

[Lobsterboy]

You cannot compare it with fox hunting; fox hutning is barbaric with the idea of the whole thing to slaughter some poor defenseless animal.

I'm pretty sure the idea of horse racing is not to kill the horses.

Yes, they need to do everything in their power to make the sport and in particular this race safer but as a horse racing fan I grow tired of reading the same stuff after every National with no acknowledgement of any improvements made

[richard moore]

Really sad news about Synchronised and According To Pete who were killed today, thoughts are with connections of the horses

Just one question for all the people who watch one race a year and have decided we need to ban horse racing; can you let me know what we are going to do with all the jockeys, trainers, stable staff, vets, farriers etc who earn a living from this sport? Oh and the horses?

Are we going to consign them to the scrap heap on a whim or should we perhaps take a step back and allow the animal welfare people to work with the horse racing community to try and improve this situation?

Just a thought...

You ban the one race or at the very least make it considerably safer thereby reducing the risk hugely. You can never remove the risk totally from any sport. No one has talked for one moment about banning horse racing altogether as far as I am aware?

[richard moore]

You can't compare animals to people when talking about fatalities in sport, and how is having a flutter once a year being complicit, totally ridiculous opinions. If you are offended by horse racing don't watch, bet or participate in it, but don't get on your high horse about those that have a different opinion.
There really are some ridiculous comments on here.
For the record I have no interest in horses or races, but have a bet on the Grand National once a year. I don't want horses to be killed during the race, but if there are changes to be made I'm happy to let the horse racing people make them.

I agree entirely. There really are some ridiculous comments on here

Yep, I was talking about your ridiculous comments, but didn't feel the need to single you out.

I wouldn't have minded your ridiculous comments singling me out out at all. I did say in my very first post that my views would not be popular on here and so it has proved. I think my shoulders are broad enough to accept you have an opposing view and hey, when it all comes down to it, it doesn't actually affect me in any concrete way at all. My thoughts are solely with the poor horses who had no choice in the matter as I hate to see animals killed in the pursuit of someone else's sport

[damon loves JT]

I would love to make it illegal to be a stupid fucking twat. I would also ban 'Stuart Little'. But this is unlikely to happen. Modifying the Grand National is an achievable goal.

[PeterWithe]

Thats a shame, won me a few quid at Cheltenham did that hoss.