Grand National

[Doorknob]

Glad to see the carnage of horses being slaughtered is mentioned above.

 

The race should be banned.

 

I haven't had a bet on the National in years just for that very reason.

 

But, have you ever had a bet before on the national??

[newby marvel]

was on seabass an cappa bleu but on same day had a sixfold up on the footy £378 lovely stuff

[Rother]

This whole ban the race crap gets on my wotsits.

 

The sad harsh facts of the matter are that without horse racing these animals would never have been born.

 

They are born, and live, for our entertainment.

 

Casualties are collateral damage.

 

Get over it.

 

Anyway, in a more constructive tone, it is my belief that a part of the problem here is the breeding of horses. Decades ago there was a distinct difference between the stallions used for siring "jumping stock" and those used for flat racers, and it was fairly rare for horses who had raced as young animals on the flat to end up contesting the big steeplechases. (Red Rum was a notable exception to that.)

 

These days the lines are getting ever more blurred so that there are far fewer specialist jumping stallions. Breeders want a quicker return for their money now, so will breed horses that can be sold to race as 2 year olds on the flat. Old style jumpers would never see a race track until they were 5 or 6 years old. They were just allowed to grow into their frame and get big and strong before being fully trained and exerted in races. Over the years this "policy" has gradually eroded the typical big framed 'Chaser who was built to stay forever and take a fall or two in his/her stride. The horses bred for flat racing are far more delicate animals and as that blood has seeped down into the jumpers they are becoming more prone to injury and are unable to sustain the rigours of racing in the way they did in earlier decades.

 

In the 70s you'd often get horses racing 20+ times in a jumps season - I don't follow it closely these days but I should imagine that hardly ever happens now, if at all. Champions (and National winners) of one season would race 6, 8, maybe 10 times before their championship races the next season - just doesn't happen now. You're lucky if you get to see the best horses 5 times a season now.

 

Anyway, that doesn't answer the question up for debate.

 

If the Grand National course has to be made easier again to cater for the more delicate animals taking part these days then sobeit. Personally speaking I don't really want to see further changes but then I'm old school. But I have cried when some of my favourite horses have had to be put down following racing accidents (Lanzarote's death in 1977 after falling in the Cheltenham Gold Cup still hurts to this day); I guess if you are (or have been) closely involved in racing you just come to accept it as part of the sport.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Rother

[Smudge]

Excellent post Rother.

[Rother]

Thanks.

[windsor bluenose]

I'll second that Smudge

[Big J R]

I must say that when I lived for a year in france, I preferred horse-steak to beef steak.

 

I suppose the pet-food industry will have benefitted from those animals being put down !

[Rother]

Thousands of horses bred for racing are put down every year because they are either too slow or too old and unsuitable / uneconomical for a comfortable retirement.

 

In many ways that is sad and tragic but there is a demand for horse meat / carcasses and if the ex-racehorses were not used for the purpose you can be damned sure that animals would be bred specifically for the purpose and, in all probability, not treated half as well during their lifetime.

[NICE GUY]

This whole ban the race crap gets on my wotsits.

 

The sad harsh facts of the matter are that without horse racing these animals would never have been born.

 

They are born, and live, for our entertainment.

 

Casualties are collateral damage.

 

Get over it.

 

Anyway, in a more constructive tone, it is my belief that a part of the problem here is the breeding of horses. Decades ago there was a distinct difference between the stallions used for siring "jumping stock" and those used for flat racers, and it was fairly rare for horses who had raced as young animals on the flat to end up contesting the big steeplechases. (Red Rum was a notable exception to that.)

 

These days the lines are getting ever more blurred so that there are far fewer specialist jumping stallions. Breeders want a quicker return for their money now, so will breed horses that can be sold to race as 2 year olds on the flat. Old style jumpers would never see a race track until they were 5 or 6 years old. They were just allowed to grow into their frame and get big and strong before being fully trained and exerted in races. Over the years this "policy" has gradually eroded the typical big framed 'Chaser who was built to stay forever and take a fall or two in his/her stride. The horses bred for flat racing are far more delicate animals and as that blood has seeped down into the jumpers they are becoming more prone to injury and are unable to sustain the rigours of racing in the way they did in earlier decades.

 

In the 70s you'd often get horses racing 20+ times in a jumps season - I don't follow it closely these days but I should imagine that hardly ever happens now, if at all. Champions (and National winners) of one season would race 6, 8, maybe 10 times before their championship races the next season - just doesn't happen now. You're lucky if you get to see the best horses 5 times a season now.

 

Anyway, that doesn't answer the question up for debate.

 

If the Grand National course has to be made easier again to cater for the more delicate animals taking part these days then sobeit. Personally speaking I don't really want to see further changes but then I'm old school. But I have cried when some of my favourite horses have had to be put down following racing accidents (Lanzarote's death in 1977 after falling in the Cheltenham Gold Cup still hurts to this day); I guess if you are (or have been) closely involved in racing you just come to accept it as part of the sport.

 

Well, well Rother you surprise me about your knowledge of horse racing. The above piece/comments was very interesting and made common sense. You clearly know more about horse racing than you do football.................. !!!

 

It seems to me you liked a little bet here and there ! I personally believe that 'cos horse racing has been part of our lives for as long as I can remeber giving us much joy and sadness, as long as the authorities do their utmost to protect the horses and the jockeys we can ask for no more. Unfortunately, there will be casualties as there is in ALL sport or entertainement.

Edited April 18, 2012 by NICE GUY

[Rother]

Why thank you Sir. My passion for horse racing started when I was 12yo, and, despite training as an accountant became a betting shop manager at 18 (got out by 22) - at one stage I was encyclopaedic in my knowledge but family responsibilities gradually took over.

 

I still love watching racing and just about keep in touch with who's winning what but rarely bet. It can be a year or more between punts.

[NICE GUY]

Why thank you Sir. My passion for horse racing started when I was 12yo, and, despite training as an accountant became a betting shop manager at 18 (got out by 22) - at one stage I was encyclopaedic in my knowledge but family responsibilities gradually took over.

 

I still love watching racing and just about keep in touch with who's winning what but rarely bet. It can be a year or more between punts.

 

I knew it, your comments would not come a ''joe bloggs'' who only bets on the National........ !

 

So now you're learning the football trade ...............

Edited April 18, 2012 by NICE GUY