Grand National

[linedancer16]

How many people dont watch the race because of the resulting injuries and sometimes deaths of the horses?

[tikkit]

Me ! I can't bear to see the horses get injured. All for greed and prestige.
tikkit

[China Doll]

I don't watch horse racing because I find it boring, same reason I don't watch a lot of things. I'm not sure I have a strong opinion either way on the grand national, I remember one year when I was working for ladbrokes there were 9 horses killed in the run up to the grand national (during the week) which was quite horrible.

[ttfn]

I cannot remember the last time I watched it - decades ago - just for the reason you posted. My concern is for the horses, not the riders :(

[echokilo]

I owned horses for years - and agre its upsetting if an animal is lost - and while it's tragic that there are sometimes deaths, we need also to remember that the Thoroughbred as a breed would have been long extinct had it not been for the enthusiasm and investment of the racing fraternity. That said, I do hope all runners and riders make it safely past the post this afternoon. We also need to remember that these animals are treated like royalty - unlike the pit ponys in the past!

[rockyracoon]

When we went to Ascot last year a horse fell and broke it's leg, it got up and ran with it's leg swinging, thinking about it now still makes me feel sick, the peope in the box next to us had something to do with the horse I think, the women were balling. It was awful.

[rockyracoon]

I feel a bit like you EK, and I do believe the horses love racing. Someone was on tv this morning saying that rules have been changed and the course is safer, let's hope so.

[linedancer16]

I just cant bear to watch it and I agree the main concern is the horses. The jockeys know the risks. tikkit you're right- its all about money and prestige.

[craft1948]

^^ I hope you mean bawling....................

[rockyracoon]

*Chortlesplutters* Craft, yes I did. Can't believe I made that mistake, god I'm sitting here PMSL.

[chi-chi66]

I don't.......I think it very cruel...agree with tikkit. Makes me feel like throwing up.

[commoner]

They may well be treated like royalty.....unless they break a leg.....don't think they would shoot Andrew or Charles if they broke a leg............if they would just attempt to save these horses and give them some sort of retirement I would feel better about the whole thing ..but no...they .just shoot the poor things and off to the glue factory......

[linedancer16]

I'm glad there are others about who feel like I do about it. Most people just see it as a time to have a bet even if its the only time of the year that they do.

[chi-chi66]

Blo@dy footballers need putting down when they get kicked in the shins, the fuss they make...try running in the National....

[ttfn]

Quite so, linedancer. I stopped participating in the office sweepstake back in the early 70's. Must have been the same time I last watched the damned race.

[chaptazbru]

Agree with all the posts on here. Should be banned imo. Total waste of beautiful animals.

[ummmm]

I don't watch it...but I don't watch any horse racing.

[B00]

won't watch or bet on it either. Horrible, horrible sport.

[nungate]

I stopped watching it and betting on it many years ago - and it was a lucky race for me I used to win a fair bit on it, now I can't bear to watch it in case any of the horses are injured - the jockeys have a choice, the horses don't.

[echokilo]

At over half a ton of flesh and more importantly muscle, the horse most definately has a choice - and anyone who has tried to encourage a horse to jump a fence he didn't want to, so walk past a fluttering plastic bag for the matter - if he diesn't want to he won't ..... the instinct is to run as they are flight animals - however, there were at least 4 refusals in todays race that I saw ..... and every bit of Equus body language said they all wanted to run before the off!

[linedancer16]

Two dead horses says it all to me - justifies all the posts on this thread from earlier- so sad and unnecessary.