The Grand National 2012

[curlytailavfc]

theres been more horse's die at the national than people at hilsborough and thats rammed down ya throat at every f.a. cup game

No there hasn't.

how many then as no figures are available pre 1928 and the average is 6 deaths per 1000 entrants

[Nev]

theres been more horse's die at the national than people at hilsborough and thats rammed down ya throat at every f.a. cup game

No there hasn't.

how many then as no figures are available pre 1928 and the average is 6 deaths per 1000 entrants

No idea, just thought I'd join in with making unsubstantiated statements such as the two you made in your initial post.

[Brend'Watkins]

The horses didn't die as a result of their falling at fences they died as a result of being put down.  A broken limb for a horse is a death sentence whether that be jumps, on the flat or an equine event.

[Dave Cooper please]

The horses didn't die as a result of their falling at fences they died as a result of being put down.  A broken limb for a horse is a death sentence whether that be jumps, on the flat or an equine event.

Only because they are specifically bred like that. A 'normal' horse can survive a broken leg, a thoroughbred racing horse can't be kept still long enough for the break to heal.
 Horses are magnificent creatures, maybe if we banned racing (cue hysteria) then we could phase out the type of breed that can't survive a simple broken bone and get back to just enjoying horses.
 A bit like we should phase out breeds of dog like pit bulls, no need for them, they are just bred to be aggressive fighting dogs. Dogs are great, we don't need pit bulls.

[Bottom Right 89]

Only because they are specifically bred like that. A 'normal' horse can survive a broken leg, a thoroughbred racing horse can't be kept still long enough for the break to heal.
 Horses are magnificent creatures, maybe if we banned racing (cue hysteria) then we could phase out the type of breed that can't survive a simple broken bone and get back to just enjoying horses.
 A bit like we should phase out breeds of dog like pit bulls, no need for them, they are just bred to be aggressive fighting dogs. Dogs are great, we don't need pit bulls.

Phasing out pitbulls is one thing and will only affect a few drug lords around brookvale. Taking a £billion out of the economy, making 100,000 people redundant and thousands of magnificent creatures surplus to requirements is something else. Maybe go back to an earlier suggestion and look at ways to make the National safer.

Here is the report by the BHA following last years race for anyone who believes the racing industry couldn't care less
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/grand-national-review/grand-national-review.pdf

[Warren Aspinall]

I love Horse racing, but i've always had an issue with the National.

At the moment we have a 4 mile steeplechase, which is 1 mile longer than nearly every other race. We have 40 runners which is at least 15/20 more runners than in most other races. We have higher/wider fences than in nearly every race.

The solution.

Shorten the race to 3 miles (the same distance as the Gold Cup), allow only 25 runners to enter (in line with most handicap races), thus doing away with 150/1 - 250/1 shots who are clearly not good enough, standardize fences across racing, with an emphasis on safety.

This will lead to a dramatic improvement & although it won't completely please the animal rights brigade, it will at least make the sport more humane.

[usav]

The solution.

Shorten the race to 3 miles (the same distance as the Gold Cup), allow only 25 runners to enter (in line with most handicap races), thus doing away with 150/1 - 250/1 shots who are clearly not good enough, standardize fences across racing, with an emphasis on safety.

This will lead to a dramatic improvement & although it won't completely please the animal rights brigade, it will at least make the sport more humane.

Then it wouldn't be the national, it would be just another race.

[Nev]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/19660089

They still refuse to reduce the distance and the field. Watch for a repeat of the hand wringing and arguing next April.

[AV1874]

The horses didn't die as a result of their falling at fences they died as a result of being put down.  A broken limb for a horse is a death sentence whether that be jumps, on the flat or an equine event.

Only because they are specifically bred like that. A 'normal' horse can survive a broken leg, a thoroughbred racing horse can't be kept still long enough for the break to heal.
 Horses are magnificent creatures, maybe if we banned racing (cue hysteria) then we could phase out the type of breed that can't survive a simple broken bone and get back to just enjoying horses.
 A bit like we should phase out breeds of dog like pit bulls, no need for them, they are just bred to be aggressive fighting dogs. Dogs are great, we don't need pit bulls.

To a point a normal horse can, sadly we lost a beautiful Welsh Cob sec D to a broken leg after he had been taken out by the person loaning him on I think a hunt. (I was only 11 at the time and devastated) He was if I remember correctly rushed up to one of the best vets in the country in Liverpool who told us that the break/damage was so significant that all he would be able to do is graze and would struggle with that so the heartbreaking decision to put him down was made as he wouldn't have had any good quality of life as a result of the accident.

The trouble with things like this, whenever you deal with horses there is a risk of things happening - our horse wasn't involved in a race like the Grand National and was still injured sufficiently to be put down. The risks are high, I don't think the race should be abolished, but more needs to be done to see what measures can be taken to try and make it safer for the horses and jockeys. What they may be, I don't have the answer for.